Gouache: The Forgiving Paint You Didn’t Know You Needed

I’ll admit, I had a moment of pure panic when I started this gathering session.
What am I doing? 😆

Why would I try something completely new when I have a tight working window? I really struggled the first two weeks. I felt like I was failing horribly. And I was behind in posting. But we all have days like that, don’t we?

I look ahead to painting, practicing, and learning more about gouache. I know there will be more frustrations, but there will also be successful days. Below are some of the things I have learned.

The Pros of Gouache

1. You Can Re-Wet It

Like watercolor, gouache remains workable. If you finish a painting and later realize you want to make changes — you can. It’s very forgiving. Of course… this can also be considered a con. (More on that later.)

2. The Pigment Is Rich, Saturated & Easy To Mix

Gouache is incredibly pigmented and naturally opaque. While watercolor relies on transparency, gouache achieves lighter values by mixing with white instead of just adding water. This makes the colors vibrant, saturated, and velvety — and very easy to mix.

You can paint delicate watercolor-like washes or build thick, forgiving layers. You can even layer light colors over dark ones. Because white is part of the mixing process, it feels more intuitive.

3. It Dries Matte, Flat, And Fast

Graphic designers and illustrators are fond of gouache for these reasons. You can build layers quickly, and changes are easy to make. (That’s code for: mistakes can be fixed.) 😄

Another advantage? It reproduces beautifully without glare. And cleanup is a breeze.

4. It’s Low-Maintenance, Portable & Doesn’t Require Fancy Supplies

Gouache is great for small studies, plein air, and travel. It lasts for years in sealed tubes, is lightweight and compact, and requires minimal equipment.

Unlike watercolor — which really shines on high-quality paper — gouache is more flexible. You can use it on watercolor paper, mixed-media paper, Bristol board, illustration board, tinted paper, canvas, or even wood. It works best on heavy, slightly absorbent, smooth surfaces.

You can use inexpensive brushes or watercolor brushes. I’ve used both synthetic and watercolor brushes with good results. I’ve used high-quality white gouache with watercolors, but I have yet to try professional-grade gouache beyond that.

For student-grade paints, I did my research and found that both Arteza and Meeden are often recommended by artists. I can honestly say the Arteza paints are really nice to work with.

5. It’s Non-Toxic, Odorless & A Little Goes A Long Way

Because gouache is so pigmented, you don’t need much. Every day this month I ended up with leftover paint on my palette. If my paintings look cohesive, that’s probably why. I used tiny amounts and just kept mixing from the same puddles.

The Cons of Gouache

1. It Can Get Muddy Fast

Because gouache reactivates with water, you can accidentally lift the layer underneath while adding a new one. If you’re not careful, things can get muddy quickly.

The general rule is thick over thin — use less water as you build layers. I definitely need more practice with this. I tend to go thick too soon. (Maybe because I’m thick in the head.) 😄

2. The Value Shift Is Real

Always mix more paint than you think you’ll need.

Gouache changes slightly as it dries. Light colors dry darker. Dark colors dry lighter. You do not want to run out of your mixed color mid-painting. Even working small this month, I ran into that problem more than once. Usually because I kept layering.

I struggled with values because of this. I already have a hard time seeing values, and the drying shift didn’t help. I plan on spending more time making swatches and mixing colors. Hopefully, I will become more comfortable with this aspect of the paint.

3. It Dries… Too Fast

Yes, this is both a pro and a con. Are you seeing a trend?

Blending is easiest when the paint is fresh. If one area dries before you’re finished, blending into it can be difficult. You also need to let the paint dry before judging the final color.

There is still much more to learn. Now that I’m not under a daily deadline, I can concentrate more on technique. I can also work on water control, layering, and consistency.

I really enjoyed getting to know this medium. And while I was sincerely frustrated each day from my lack of knowledge, I enjoyed painting with gouache.

Here’s another look at some of the details from the paintings.