Gouache is lovely little paint that has become my most trusted friend in my illustration journey (coffee and classical music bangers coming in at a close second and third). It’s a vibrant, pigmented paint which comes to life when water is added, and its versatility allows you to create watery washes for texture, or go in super bold and flat for dynamic shapes and delicate details.
I first heard about gouache paint in my Year 11 art class, but I was too busy making messes with big sloppy acrylic paints to pay much mind at the time. Teeny tiny little tubes of paint, you say? Absolutely not, pass me the big pots and wet paper towels please!
As the years went by in my art education, my preferences and style evolved from big canvases and crispy paint stains on my clothes to smaller scale illustrations with inks and watercolour. At some point along the way of goofing around in art studios, gouache appeared in my tool box and became a firm favourite for various reasons:
Although gouache paint comes in small tubes, they last absolutely ages as you only need to squeeze a small amount onto your palette.
They’re sold in separate tubes so you don’t need to invest in a big pack at first. I buy two or three colours at a time to match the colour palette I’m fancying (I recommend a big tube of white!)
They’re water-based and dry quickly, which means a quick and easy tidy-up, or if you leave your palette to dry, simply add water and the paints come back to life (I’m lazy).
Gouache is opaque, so you can paint light colour on top of dark colour with ease. The best bit is adding pure white on top for highlights!
They scan really nicely! If you want to have your artwork printed or digitised, they should be easy to edit as the edges are bold and crisp.
In my work, I mix it up between painting something fully in gouache (as above), or creating mixed media pieces alongside other mediums - a great combination is with watercolour. I love using a wash of watercolour to create a textured base coat, then applying details with gouache and a small brush. I leave enough breathing space between brushstrokes to allow the watercolour to peek through.
Jersey Tiger Moth - Watercolour base with gouache details
As this is the medium I’ve been using in my practise the longest, it’s my favourite subject to teach in my workshops. I love sharing my tips and tricks when it comes to creating bright and playful illustrations with gouache paint for all types of subject matter. Recently, I’ve been painting botanicals in preparation for my upcoming 4-week Summer Flowers Gouache Course!
If painting with gouache is something you’d like to try for yourself, or perhaps you’ve got a set already and you’re in need of some creative encouragement and guidance, check out my availability for online one-to-one tuition and upcoming events and workshops!
Learn to paint marigolds with me!