Many artists use gouache (pronounced gwash) in their work, but what exactly is this medium all about?
If you're new to gouache paints or want to learn more about this medium to make gouache painting easy, here are some essential tips to get you started.
But first, let's go over the fundamentals of gouache paint.
What is Gouache Paint?
Artists often refer to gouache as a 'golden medium'. I wholeheartedly agree based on personal experience.
Since the 18th century, gouache has been used as a creamier, thicker, and more opaque version of watercolor. Even Van Gogh painted with gouache at some point!
If you've worked with watercolor before, you're probably aware that, while it's great for dreamy, wispy washes, it doesn't offer much in terms of textural quality.
I like to think of gouache as a kind of easier-to-work-with oil paint, but without the toxicity and mess. Here are some of the many advantages of using gouache paints:
- It is more opaque compared to watercolor so the paper or surface underneath your paint is not visible
- It has a faster drying time compared to mediums such as oil paint. This means you only have to wait for a few minutes for one layer to dry before working on adding more layers
- Gouache is a forgiving medium. Like watercolor, it can be reactivated with water. Do you know what this means? You can reasonably paint over an existing layer if you've made a mistake, or use a slightly wet brush to erase a part of your painting if you wish to change it. Acrylic paints do not allow you to do this
- Gouache paints appear less vibrant than acrylic colors, but that's not a bad thing. Their softer, matte appeal is what makes them such a great alternative for other complex mediums like oil.
- You need a smaller amount of water to work with gouache. Gouache typically involves more color-to-color mixing than water-mixing, which means your paper will buckle/wrinkle much less than it will with watercolor paints
- Most good-quality gouache paints are organic! They use gum arabic as a binding medium, which keeps your paint from sliding off the paper
After reading this, if you're feeling slightly more convinced to try gouache, then these tips will come in handy!
Mix Your Paints Mindfully
When I first started using gouache, I used to be in such a tearing hurry to mix my paints and just start painting that I ended up with a lot of muddy tones, unsightly compositions, and patchy paintings.
To avoid these mistakes, it might be worth your time to learn how to mix your paints. And I don't just mean mixing them physically but mixing them mindfully, with one eye on the
color wheel.
To get started, stock your art kit with a few basic colors such as Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Red, Green, and black and white. Consider trying this
Daler Rowney Gouache Set which consists of 12 basic colors.
This kind of limited palette is tricky to work with but ends up teaching you a lot about color theory. With a few trials and experiments, you'll learn the art of color matching and mixing --- a super important step before you begin painting.
Move From Generic Shapes to Specific Ones
Plan your painting thoroughly. When I study a reference, I start with the larger shapes that I need to draw/paint before moving on to the more specific attributes.
To paint a tree, for example, you must first block in an outward shape and fill it with a base color before adding the more delicate foliage and leaves. That is what gives a painting depth and volume and makes it appear realistic.
Would you get the same effect if you just painted green leaves without the base for the shadows? Probably not.
Painting with gouache requires mentally planning out the steps for each painting, so take your time to do that.
Use a Combination of Brushes
Gouache is a wonderful medium, but it does require a lot of layering of colors and patterns on top of one another before it looks like a painting, and you'll need more than one basic brush for that.
For painting the background, you'll need a large flat brush. Flat brushes will help you blend colors more seamlessly and cover larger areas faster.
For etching out smaller details, you'll also need a round brush and a fine liner brush.
Keep White Paint Handy
White is an essential color for anyone who works with gouache. Water is used in watercolor painting to dilute a color value or to create a color gradient. In gouache, you use white in a similar capacity.
This basic color is essential for gouache paintings because it is used to dilute the color value while blending and to add striking highlights.
I always keep an extra set of Titanium White gouache paint on hand. Running out of white gouache paint is a nightmare, believe me, so make sure you have enough.
Understand Gouache's Color Values
Gouache paint works slightly differently than other mediums. When you use a dark gouache color, it lightens as it dries.
Similarly, a light color darkens as it dries. Keep these distinctions in mind when painting with gouache to avoid unwelcome contrasts.
Don't Use Too Much Water
Mix gouache paints with each other, instead of just water to achieve a smooth, flowy consistency. Too much water in gouache paint will make it runny, resulting in a watercolor-like effect that will reveal the area underneath. This is not what you want.
Make the most of its creamy, thick texture by adding just the right amount of water to achieve opacity.
Don't be intimidated by all the incredible gouache paintings you see on social media. Remember, all those artists started with just the basics at some point, and you can too!
Simply follow these basic guidelines and let me know if they were helpful. Please feel free to share your gouache experience in the comments!
Advaita Raut is a self-taught landscape artist who documents her art regularly on Instagram. You can also purchase her original artwork from her Etsy shop.
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