Gouache Basics & Brushwork

Start here if you want to feel more comfortable with the way gouache behaves. This section gathers lessons on paint consistency, brush control, blending, layering, dry brushing, and the simple techniques that make the rest of the library feel easier to follow.

Best Place to Start

New to gouache or want to refresh the basics? These lessons are a good first step before you explore the wider library.

Gouache Boot Camp

If you're new to gouache or don't know where to begin, Gouache Boot Camp covers all the basics and includes exercises and recommended tutorials.

Essential Techniques

In this live class we'll go through some of the essential techniques that crop up often as we paint.

The Perfect Beginner Landscape

This live class is the perfect way to dip your toes into painting realistic landscapes with gouache using just 2 colors, plus black and white.

Techniques

Dry Brushing & Damp Blending

I use these essential techniques in nearly every painting, so it's worth familiarizing yourself with them!

Consistency

Want to get nerdy about consistency? Lets take a look at how to recognize the perfect thickness of paint and what we should be using it for.

Blending Exercises

Try out some different approaches to blending colors together.

Brush Trials

This is a quick and easy exercise to help you figure out which of your brushes will work best for painting plant shapes!

Flat Brushes

Explore the marks your brushes can make to expand the textures in your landscapes.

Round Brushes

Explore the marks your round brushes can make to expand the textures in your landscapes.

Watercolor Brushes

Get an idea of how using watercolor brushes can affect our results with gouache.

Specialty Brushes

Got other weird and wonderful brushes? Let's try out those too!

Brush Care

Thankfully gouache is not too tough on our brushes, but lets take a look at the best way to keep them in tip-top shape.

Protecting Gouache

If you're looking for some added protection for your gouache paintings, these are some options for you.