The Little Art School’s Joanne Robinson explains what gouache is and then guides you through what materials you need when you’re starting to paint with gouache and a few simple techniques to get you started.
Gouache is having a renaissance.
Twenty years ago, I struggled to find anything about gouache; now, there are books with fun gouache projects, pages on Pinterest of inspiring ideas and boxes of lovely gouache paints available to buy.
Why is gouache coming back in fashion? For me, I think it is because gouache has so many advantages. The high pigment ratio means that gouache gives you fantastic coverage. It dries really, really quickly, and because it is opaque, it’s easy to paint over and cover up mistakes, unlike watercolour!
Gouache has a beautiful matte quality, which reminds me of the Farrow and Ball paints. It doesn’t have the ‘shine’ of acrylics, which I love, but I can see a huge difference in the finish.
Another massive advantage of gouache is that it can be painted on pretty much any surface.
While watercolours require special paper, you can paint with gouache on cardboard, a mount board, or anything else.
But What is Gouache?
Gouache is a water-based medium and is very closely associated with watercolour. However, there is a big difference; watercolour is transparent, and gouache is opaque.
The easiest way to explain this is to think about painting white.
With watercolour, you need to use the white of the paper for white, either masking it to protect it from paint or painting around it.
Because the gouache is opaque, you can paint over the colour below.
Although it has opaque qualities, you can still use gouache in transparent washes in the same way as watercolour; watch the video link to see how I demonstrate this.
The two facts above make gouache such a brilliantly versatile artist’s medium: It has the transparent qualities of watercolour and the opaque qualities of acrylics and oils, but it also has a beautiful matte finish and is of great value.
A Little Gouache History
Gouache has been used for hundreds of years. In the medieval era, monks used a form of gouache to illustrate manuscripts. In the 16th century, Albrecht Dürer and Raphael used gouache.
Many artists used gouache in the 17th,18th, and 19th centuries. There are many examples of gouache sketches by artists like Turner.
Joseph Mallord William Turner, The Scarlet Sunset, c.1830-40
In the 20th century, the use of gouache shifted from a medium for fine art to a very popular medium for illustrators.
Gouache began to be seen as a commercial medium, and a perfect example is the transport posters, like this Peak District travel poster, which were popular in the early 20th century.
Equipment to Get Started with Gouache
To get started with gouache, you need a minimal number of artistic tools
- Gouache Paints
- Brushes
- Palette
- Paper
Tips for Buying Gouache
Gouache almost always comes in tubes, usually 15ml and 38ml. Although you can now buy gouache in pans, we stick with small tubes at the Little Art School. Most art shops also have packs with a selection of colours.
However, if you want to eliminate all the confusion about what to buy, our Little Art School Online Drawing and Painting Course includes ALL the materials you need to start using gouache (paint, paper, brushes, and palette!).
Term 2 of our Level 1 course is dedicated to gouache and has 10 step-by-step lessons that build skills in using gouache.
It’s worth clarifying the difference between “designer gouache” and “artist gouache”.
Designer Gouache Versus Artist Gouache
Designer Gouache has bright, opaque colours that stand out but may not last as long as other types of paint.
On the other hand, Artist Gouache uses high-quality pigments that resist fading, making it a better choice for art if you want to stand the test of time.
If you’re just starting with gouache and don’t mind if your art fades over time, designer gouache is an affordable option that still gives good results.
Here are a few examples of gouache available to buy:
Jackman’s Artist’s Gouache comes in a set of 5 x 14ml tubes, which retail for £35 at the time of writing.
The Winsor and Newton Designer’s Gouache set has 10 tubes for about the same price. I have used this one and love the colours.
The Pan-style gouache is becoming increasingly popular. Again, it is priced similarly to the others shown but has 24 colours.
My daughter has used one like this and loved it. She also bought replacement pans when they ran out.
Tips for Gouache Painting
Brushes for Gouache Painting
When I first started painting, the selection of brushes at an art shop used to panic me. I know that having three brushes covers most things when you’re starting.
In the Little Art School beginner art courses, we send our artists three short-handled round brushes, one larger for coverage and two smaller for detail. As you start to build your skills, adding to your brush collection can become a source of joy!
You can paint with any type of brush with gouache, but synthetic brushes keep their shape and wash well. Just a bit of washing-up liquid removes the paint, so rinse and dry to keep the shape.
Palette for Gouache Painting
You will need a palette to squeeze your paints onto and mix your colours.
We provide a plastic dimple palette on our online art course, but in the past, I’ve used an old plate—basically, anything you can wash.
A sheet of glass can work, but I’m rather clumsy, and my fear of breaking the glass has kept me sticking with my washable plastic!
Paper for Gouache Painting
It is not necessary to buy watercolour paper to work with gouache. The versatility of paper type is one of the most significant differences between gouache and watercolour.
Gouache is versatile; while you can use watercolour paper, it is not necessary. You can work on almost any absorbent, non-shiny surface with gouache.
Card or mount board works well, and you can experiment with various colours, so there’s no need to stick to white paper.
Painting with gouache on black paper is part of Level 4 of our Little Art School Drawing and Painting Course.
It’s important to remember that the choice of background colour may influence the vibrancy of some of your paint colours.
How to Paint Using Gouache
Let’s explore the essentials of painting with gouache, to help you unlock the potential of gouache and bring your artistic visions to life.
You’re all set once you have your paints, paper, brushes, and palette. Grab a jar of clean water and start painting. Squeeze out a bit of paint and experiment!
Gouache Painting Techniques for Beginners
Wet on Wet Gouache
You can use gouache exactly like watercolours, allowing washes to blend or mingle with each other to create lovely, spontaneous effects.
Wet-on-Dry Gouache
The wet-on-dry way allows you to build up the painting with layers.
Ensure the paint is dry before applying the next layer. With watercolour, you have to work from light to dark, but with gouache, you have more flexibility. However, remember that some colours are more transparent than others; yellow doesn’t work well over a darker colour.
Sponging Gouache
I love the effects you can get with a little sponge, either lining the paint off the paper or using the brush to apply the paint. I often use a sponge when I’m painting trees.
Lose Your Edges with Gouache
Lost and found edges in painting describe how edges move from sharp lines to softer, blended areas. This technique adds depth, atmosphere, and realism to a piece.
Found edges are sharp and clear, helping to highlight specific parts of a painting. They draw attention to focal points or areas with noticeable contrast.
Lost edges are softer and blend into their surroundings. They smooth transitions between shapes and colours. This technique creates softness and movement, often seen in backgrounds or to suggest form without clear outlines.
Mastering lost and found edges can make a painting feel more lively and natural. This technique works well in gouache, watercolour, and oil painting, where blending and softening edges add depth and visual interest.
We think ‘lost and found edges’ are so important when planning and executing a painting that we have dedicated an entire term of our online course to teaching about them.
Once you start thinking about edges, you will look at paintings differently.
You can lose edges in gouache by blending sharp lines with a damp brush.
Splattering Gouache
Splattering is a great way to add texture to things like stone on a path or leaves.
Gouache splattering works best with a brush with stiff bristles; just load the brush with watery gouache and then pull back the bristles and quickly release them to cause a random and irregular spray of tiny droplets to fall.
Gouache Mistakes
One reason gouache is so popular is that it is forgiving, which is especially handy when you start learning to paint. You can simply paint over your mistakes.
Fixing mistakes in gouache painting is easy because gouache is opaque. Here are some effective techniques:
- *Let It Dry Completely
Wait for the paint to dry before correcting mistakes, as gouache can be reactivated with water. - Lightly Lift Fresh Mistakes
If the paint is still wet, use a damp brush or tissue to gently lift it. - Paint Over with Opaque Layers
Once dry, apply a new, less watery layer to cover mistakes, using multiple thin layers for dark colours. - Use a Neutral Base for Tough Mistakes
For difficult spots, first, apply white or light grey (or the colour of the background), let it dry, and then add the correct colour. - Blend Edges if Needed
Use a damp brush to soften sharp corrections for a smoother look. - Embrace the Mistake
Consider incorporating minor errors into your artwork for creative inspiration.
With patience and layering, you can effectively fix mistakes in gouache.
Speed Drying Gouache Paintings
Gouache dries very quickly with a bit of hot air. If you want to speed up the drying time with gouache, carefully dry it with a hairdryer or leave it to dry in a warm room.
Recommended Books for Gouache Painting
Both these gouache books come highly recommended by us at the Little Art School.
Jeremy Ford: The Art of Gouache
This fantastic book looks at lots of different ways to use gouache.
Kevin Scully: Painting Still Life in Gouache
I love the art in this book; it is so gentle and beautiful.
Learn from Painting Mistakes
Remember that mistakes are your stepping stones when you start gouache painting.
Think of your art practice in the same way as a pianist learning to play. Don’t expect to get it right each time; just keep trying!
Online Art Course
We’d love to teach you to paint using gouache.
If you’d like to learn to draw and paint in many mediums following a structured and progressive art course, look at our Drawing and Painting Course at the Little Art School.
Our online art course allows you to work at your own pace.
Unlike other online courses, we send you all the art materials you need to complete the course. The Little Art School provides a nurturing environment and a thriving online community that comes together in a spirit of kindness and help.
Summary of Gouache Painting for Beginners
- You can use gouache like acrylics or oils; pile on the paint thickly.
- Use gouache-like watercolours; paint wash them by thinning them with water.
- Combine the two effects.
- Equipment does not have to be expensive; gouache is a brilliant, cost-effective way to develop art skills.
- Keep experimenting!
Watch our Gouache Painting Video
The Little Art School’s Joanne Robinson explains what GOUACHE is and why it’s such a fantastic medium.