Learning to use Gouache Paints!

I tried out gouache paint for the first time recently, and it turned out to be pretty awesome. At first, I was not really sure what to expect. I knew gouache was kind of in between watercolour and acrylic, but I did not have a clue how it would actually work on paper. When I started, I used the paint way too thick, focusing mainly on its rich colour and opacity. It did not look terrible, but something just felt off about the way I applied it. So, I gave it another go and realized gouache works way better when you build it up slowly. Even though it is opaque, starting with thin layers made a huge difference. The paint went on smoother, the colours popped more, and I could tweak shapes and values without making a mess right away. Once I had those first layers down, putting on thicker paint felt more intentional and worked so much better!

My first painting consisted of a chicken and some blueberries… a crucial part of the experimentation process!

Starting with thin layers, using the paints similar to watercolours, allowed me to plan the artwork, and adding thicker layers helped me define details and highlights. Instead of struggling with the paint, I felt like I was working together with it!

My first experience with gouache taught me that understanding how a medium works is just as important as recognizing what it looks like as a final artwork. Gouache paint is also great because you do not need extra solvents or oils to work with it; all you need is water! The setup and clean-up process is limited, making it a decent paint for travelling. Is it as simple as watercolour? I would argue no; however, I have only just started experimenting!