5 Beginner Gouache Mistakes (and what to do instead!)

[@dxmkrew]

I was wondering why I’m so attracted to gouache art and the emotion that it can convey, and now I understand. The paint itself is moody, needy and temperamental.

[@ashleybangbang6807]

Lmao 😂😂

[@sweetpotato1632]

I relate to spritual level

[@jenUHviee]

Wow, sounds like I finally found the medium that matches my soul 😭😅🤣

[@marshallarts1376]

That’s such an interesting way to describe it; I never thought about paint like that

[@brittany6430]

guoache is just like watercolor but with sass

[@shellieruth7981]

Exactly!!!!

[@geceveece]

what is sass?

[@simpjaess]

@@geceveece similar to being cheeky, but in this case it's in a good way

[@JenniferFunnellArt]

YES!

[@electro.dash.666x7]

Acryla gouache is regular gouache but stubborn

[@dezs82]

i’ve been using gouache for a month now and i’m having a hard time working with colors. this video is very helpful for me! thank you! 💖

[@hotmonkeyfilms]

These are the best collection of tips I've seen. I paint watercolor so I treat gouache the same way. TOO MUCH WATER. NOT ENOUGH DRYING. You visually highlighted all of those "mistakes." Thank you so much!

[@amberdreams_0]

the explains a lot of the things I struggled with when I used to use gouache when I was at school. I was really stingy with the paint, and reused the same little cracked up dollops on my palette for years. No wonder it tended to be streaky LOL

[@fwoop4848]

Beginner artist here! This was really helpful. I messed around with a acrylic for a while so the thing about lightening colors with water doesn’t really apply to me because in acrylic you use white, so I think I’ll have an easier time with gouache.

[@mynameismynameismynameismy4565]

I hate acrylic not gonna lie but they're kinda fun sometimes

[@maddiemawby6802]

I've been struggling with colour mixing with gouache! Especially when I use a picture reference or other peoples paintings as a reference for my own practice and trying to figure out what colours they mixed to achieve that specific shades

[@KevinGilgan]

your double page spreads in your (what looks like) moleskine journal are super inspirational! Really grateful for all these tips and I hope one day i can make something pretty.

[@leighlou5345]

I just got my first gouache set in (the big Himi one) and have been watching a lot of stuff to learn a bit before even really opening them all up and starting out, and this is definitely the most helpful and informational video I've watched so far. 👌🏻

[@thomasgodar]

Was reaffirming to hear that you also go through a lot of white. I've gone through two tiny Titanium White's and I've been painting for a couple weeks. Great tips! Thanks for sharing the video.

[@sa8024]

I typically use the thin layers of reactivated paint to underpaint/"sketch" to help me sort out where I want everything to go, especially on a no reference/off-the-dome piece. As for the reactivated globs, I generally get them somewhat soft and mix them with fresh paint, either of the same color or a color I want to mix the dry with. I've been using arteza for over 3 years and haven't noticed any of the hard to reactivate little chips yet. Something I've found helpful with gouache and really paint in general is having a grayish palette, the colors feel truer to me than on white or black, recommend playing with colors to see what color palette you'd prefer. (Can not recc a glass palette enough tbh)

[@Maria-em4oz]

1. Use thick consistency when painting a layer over (& make SURE that the layer beneath is DRY so they won't mix together )

[@pooggyy]

her: regularly mist your gouache, make sure it doesn't dry completely! me, with my completely dead n dry himi palette: uh about that..

[@lemmeyeetoutofhere5076]

If your "jelly paints" have dried out you can reactivate them by adding\spraying them with water and letting it sit for 10-20 minutes. I had a similar problem with my Arrtx jelly gouache pallet and this really helped

[@shiya506]

Jelly gouache is a little different in those terms. you can simply add water to the gouache let it sit, and then stir it, and you gouache will be back to normal in almost 1/2 ~ 1day

[@sabrinapalette6883]

seokgenie normal water or water that have chemical in it(?)

[@shiya506]

@@sabrinapalette6883 normal water

[@sabrinapalette6883]

seokgenie thankyou 🙏🏻💕

[@metakarukenshi]

Thanks for this mate. as a digital artist. I havent really worked in Traditional mediums in ages. and my only experience with traditional paints was watercolour. after getting some Jelly cup Gouache I tried out and had all these issues. Thanks for the helpful vid

[@kjlinger23]

I was about to throw mine out because I was so frustrated (I normally use watercolor), after watching this some of my mistakes make complete sense. Thank you!!

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Yes as I am just starting out with gouache, I am making all of these mistakes. I did figure out how the gouache dried differently from the watercolors. Thanks for sharing this informational video with us. ❤

[@dusting1497]

Wow I didn't know guoache was this complicated. I'm such a noob haha. Thanks for all these tips jess! 😊

[@andrewsart23]

Just bought a cheap travel set from 5 below and I’m so ready to get started. I’m glad it’s thicker than watercolor. I’m a beginner to it all!❤️

[@pamadams9811]

A friend just sent me a set of gouache paints an I am terrified to use them. But this helped me a lot. I am proficient at water color, but I think I can do this, just.being patient and letting things dry will test my patience! Thank you for the video, It really helps.

[@JessChungArt]

Hi guys! In case you haven’t seen yet, the giveaway winner (from the last video) has already been announced in a community post. Thank you again to everyone who entered and left a kind comment :)

[@preciousmariepenuliar209]

11:31 i keep looking at the plastic i use as a pallet when i paint... i should probably learn my lesson to always clean it BUT THE WASTED PAINT ITS SO EXPENSIVE FOR ME REEEE

[@jaguiar]

A lot of this is just opinion, if you can make it work then go for it

[@claritzairosario68]

Thank you so much for this tutorial video! I'm new to gouache, I bought a cheap set of gouache for trying and experiment with them and I thought the gouache are the same as watercolors, but opaque...but they are not the same. I'm work with watercolors a few years now, and they're totally different. In my opinion, the gouache is like a acrylics, but more thin and creamy, and of course more opaque. And this video for me, it's very important, so, my going to save it, thank you 😊

[@Dalandanini]

I just bought my first gouache and it's gonna be delivered tom, so glad I saw this before using it!! Thank you so much and wish me luck hehehe

[@kaiyakaltio]

Mistake number six: this whole time I've been calling it goo-ash

[@tinaliu6033]

ive been calling it goo-chay

[@yanim7zu]

i've been calling it goo-ach

[@Lavrnjaa]

As a French speaker you can pronounce it “gou-ache” as long as the oo and a are softer sounds. Actually, pronounce it however you want, people can be real a-holes about art material pronunciations

[@sunrise_boulevard]

haha i had to google it to see how to pronounce it, but before i did that, i just wouldn't say the word lol

[@doyoueverfeellikeaplasticb2703]

i said it right the first time i think? i think because i was taking foreign language classes and learned how to pronounce words closer to it

[@anaghasharma7433]

Thank you for these tips. As a beginner I struggle with blending colors and layering.

[@lywaa2300]

Great video! Also, I have realized that different paint brands reactivate better than others. My winsor and newton yellow does the crackling bits and won't work, but holbein reactivates well! There's a great class on skillshare comparing some different brands. Caran d'ache even makes gouache that is in dry pans. I like to use gouache that reactivates well because then I can reactivate my palette and not waste gouache. So brand matters for this. Thanks for the video!

[@yenchan5322]

True. My W&N gouache dried up. Though that it should reactivate like watercolour but it's a bit more stubborn and has flakes floating in it. I do wish I could get one of the Holbein sets but they are pricey in UK.

[@lywaa2300]

@@yenchan5322 Yes I know what you mean. Check around and see which brands aren't as pricey in your location and then look up reviews on it and you might be able to find another brand you can get for a good price that reactivates well!

[@JessChungArt]

This is so good to know, thank you for sharing! I've only tried 3 brands and they all seem to dry/crack similarly. I've been wanting to try Holbein gouache so this is really good news 😍

[@gail8733]

Excellent video with key points that I easily miss while working with this great medium. Concise, clearly presented, and the visuals really help make the point.

[@MDCampbell]

Hello Jess! While preparing a new video for my channel, this video popped up in my "recommended" sidebar. Really enjoyed your delivery and the narrative you provided with the demos. These are such great tips, especially for beginners! I spent the 1980s working in gouache and gave it up when I went digital. Seeing the resurgence of gouache around 2015 or so has been so cool and videos like yours a so valuable, both for beginners and for veterans, alike! Thank you! ~ Mark _(by the way, this is a re-post of a previous comment. You have a troll named _*_dev null_*_ who continues to berate my comments when I post to you. Sorry about that)_

[@katrikinnunen8969]

I think that this video has saved my artistic ass. Those demonstrations that you did with the problems with gouache were so spot on, especially when I was struggling with mixing watercolor qualities with gouache in my painting process. Thank you! :)

[@kyla1080]

This is really helpful! I've started using gouache lately and I'm shocked at how the light colors I mixed got darker. I thought its an error in my mixing, turns out gouache is just that way 😔 thank u so much for these tips!

[@bindipark3872]

This is the tutorial I have been looking for! I feel much more confident now. You have a wonderful speaking voice (I am Australian) and an easy manner.

[@JaneDoe-qg4hy]

I’ve been looking for the right how to for gouache, and this is the first one that’s been helpful. Thank you.

[@Miss_Art_Lover7]

Omg ❤️ this helped me so much thank you I don’t really comment I watch ur videos but you are the best!

[@sammarino8743]

Thank you. You covered many of the things that make painting frustrating to many new gouache painters.

[@shiya506]

i'm getting my gouache set later this week, so this was helpful. thank you!

[@kathyoh9713]

Thank you for these tips! Am new to gouache. Frustration with water to paint ratio is my biggest problem. Which of course makes it difficult. Just keep working with it, patience. Using miya himi mostly. Your art is beautiful, I enjoy watching you paint.

[@gnathp4497]

Me too I have that problem, I am using holbein gouache

[@liontoyou9518]

this is the first "gouache for beginners" video that ive actually found helpful

[@ana6772]

I tried gouache for the first time last week and honestly gave up after the skin tones became all muddy asfaghjk now I know what I was doing wrong! I was literally making all of these mistakes, every single one you mentioned, so I'm really thankful for this. Do you do portraits? If yes, how do you do the skin tones? Especially darker ones, thanks! 💕

[@JessChungArt]

yay glad this was helpful :) i haven't tried painting portraits yet, i'm a little hopeless at them haha

[@ana6772]

@@JessChungArt portraits are the toughest i feel like but i have full confidence in you! Thanks again!

[@mynameismynameismynameismy4565]

Potrait with gouache are my nightmare. That's why I use watercolours for potrait

[@AndreaMarquezz]

Thanks so much! I just got my gouache in the mail, I’ll be trying it for the first time 🥺💕

[@JessChungArt]

ahh so exciting!! hope you enjoy using it :)

[@dorothypearce8144]

At last some teaching available with paint I have loved for years and years. Thank you.

[@Netashas]

Thank you soo much for this video 😊 I just started using gouache and I have been painting with watercolors for years

[@aceciliaq]

This is the best explanatory video I've watched, these are all the mistakes I've been doing. Thank you

[@bridgetcampbell6629]

So helpful, and OMG your sketchbook is so beautiful. Love your work! It's so inspiring!

[@chrisr3185]

Thank you so much for this video! I'm currently working on a gouache painting for an art course, and your tips are super helpful!

[@dristihandique9779]

Today was my first day with Gauche and I could literally relate everything you said!!! This video is helpful and thankyou so much ,I really needed this❤️❤️.

[@tomekkarola5072]

I saw many "tips, tricks for beginners" videos and....this one is the best! Veeeeery useful, thanks

[@srilekshmi9840]

as a beginner and a person who tried to teach myself gouache, i related to every single mistake mentioned 😂 but the advice helped so much!!! thank you!

[@leeb6459]

I just ordered some gouache paint and Im so happy I watched your videos before I try to use them :) thankyou for making these videos!

[@Samthe1stbob]

I've been experimenting with other mediums and I've been attracted to gouache cause ut seems easier than watercolor. Finally someone addressed the drying and layering bit. Cause it seemed tedious

[@rubyfisch5077]

Your sketchbook is amazing! I just ordered some new gouache and can't wait to play. I had bought some many years ago, and could never get into it. This was before KZbin had so many great videos on it, so you know how old it is. lol Needless to say, the paint wouldn't even come out of the tubes, and I don't think that brand is even around anymore. Anyway, thanks for the helpful info!

[@tlojewelrylove]

This is very good advice. I've never worked with paints of any kind... artistically anyway. Painting walls doesn't count. LOL! Although I'm into sketching at this time, I hope to one day feel confident enough to try my hand at painting because I absolutely love colors but have never felt good about my ability to mix/match and create with color. I think I like the opaque quality of gouache better than regular water colors because I do love bold, bright, colors. Thanks for sharing! 👍

[@mickigarvey7608]

All very useful and so well presented and explained. Thanks from a total beginner 🙂

[@emmakilani]

Wow this video is so informative compared to other videos I've watched. I feel much more comfortable trying out this medium now, thank you! ❤

[@Iamedsmum]

Thank you for these essential tips for beginners, Jess. Your excellent video will definitely ensure my newly-delivered 56 pot pallet of gouache beauty provides hours of fun. With huge thanks and best wishes - Marion in the UK

[@thaliagrace6631]

I am so thankful because I am working on gouache now, and these were the questions I didn't have any answers too, and as I do watercolour, I think they cam from that.

[@anthillsagony]

This was very useful and made me realize that I was, in fact, using a lot of watercolor specific tactics with gouache lol. Thanks!

[@katherinekwon4074]

some of your techniques really remind me more of what I learned when I first started painting with acrylic. Then i switched to watercolor and I think I may have just found the in between of these two mediums.

[@CANDYYASOL]

Thank you this video really help me, I usually paint watercolor and only use gouache for white highlights. And I have a full set of gouache and really wanted to try but wasn’t sure how to. So this video helped me a lot

[@nohasammoury4655]

I made all of them😂😂 Thank you for this videooo I’ll try my best to improve

[@JessChungArt]

haha it happens to all of us! you're welcome :)

[@chokoladas]

Thank you , very useful . i am new for Gouache color , first i just use some for my watercolor painting i just order one box almost 20 colors. hope i can try it and avoid mistake you mentioned :D .

[@lyricalize2344]

So helpful, Thankyou! I have come from a watercolour beginnings so I have definitely been watering them down to much. I’m frustrated with her hard. It is to spread it, but will have to just be more generous with the paint I guess.

[@AM-vh2vp]

This video is very helpful! I always colour it like watercolour, always adding more water instead of adding more paint like white colour to blend the scene

[@minicraftyclub4258]

I was planning to paint studio ghibli painting for my channel with guoache and it helps me so much thanks you so much

[@SteveSavage79]

Great video I for one learned you few mistakes I was making. Thank you for saving me many hours of figuring it out on my own.

[@mwaz47]

Important tips that will help with common frustrations when using gouache. Thank you.

[@d.adonis4547]

Took online Domestika course on gouache and thoroughly enjoyed it. This, after years of frustration, especially in Art school, the course was very informative. I’ve completed over ten pieces so far.

What course? By Emma?

Thank you

[@Cara84de]

thanks a lot, that was very helpful! I was only aware of the drying out problem because I also got acryl paint to paint a wooden doll house and furnitures...now I wanted to try gouache, so I got myself those tiny pots that usually come with those color by number sets but empty, they are pretty cheap, like 15 eur for 150 pieces.. that way I can also keep more already mixed colors and also only open them individually.. for mixing in more water I'm just using a normal additional pallette.. greets :)

[@preciousmariepenuliar209]

KZbin! WHY DID YOU ONLY TELL ME THIS AFTER I FINISHED PAINTING!!!!!

[@azzahnafisahsofyan8300]

ಥ‿ಥ me too

[@Babyjohn8170]

This is extremely helpful. New to using gouache and I’m learning so much. Thank you. You have a new subscriber.😊👍

[@annek.mphiri60]

Thank you so much it was really helpful

[@lindamcclure8037]

I’m new to gauche, and your tips were very helpful.

[@sectorgovernor]

I've never tried gouache(though I'm generally rarely do any art for years), in my opinion it looks similar to tempera but it looks better. I've recently seen mini landscape paintings with gouache and those looked so cool

[@Btelgeuse]

wow! that last painting with the mountains and field of flowers, amazing!

[@loyaltheoristgirl1018]

Me: has watercolors Me: watches anyway, Im disliking watercolors...

[@poorbone2104]

Same I have 3 sets of watercolors but I hate them now because it's too long to do layering and the gouache you only Need 1 to 2 layers

[@shrakvinn2613]

@@poorbone2104 Wellp watercolors are transparent mediums thats why it takes a while to build up the color.

[@loyaltheoristgirl1018]

@@shrakvinn2613 yep I wasnt built for such patience. I think I know ehat I'll be asking for Christmas

[@Maeember]

@@poorbone2104 33€🦇🦇🦇🦇

[@isaniart]

As an impatient watercolorist, may I recommend starting with bold color and then adjusting with more watered down layers? Working wet on wet with bold, saturated strokes gives you a nice base, and it will inevitably dry lighter. I know that I was never able to slowly build up thin layers.

[@barbclark69]

Thank you for sharing your mistakes, Jess. I just got some HIMI gouache for Christmas and I was wondering how to keep it wet.

[@saturdayilgrande]

Thanks! I really made a lot of mistakes considering gouache as a thicker watercolour, I will be soon try your suggestions!

[@Gowsalyaa97]

Hai Jess...I am a gouache beginnner and this was very informative to me..Can you teach us realistic effects to bring on gouache paintings & some fun food or cafe illustration tutorials..Looking forward to it !!!

[@Linda-qq5mg]

Thank you very much. Your paintings are beautiful!

[@xvgarnet]

Thank you so much for this, I'm learning how to use gouache and I'm sure this will come in handy!

[@KitsuyuutsuR]

Thanks for this! I just bought a set of paints to try this medium, but I’m a bit leery to try it because I’ve never used it before. These tips make me feel like I can give it a go!

[@deni.exe_]

I just ordered miya himi gouache and can't wait to try it :)) first time using gouache tho coz my medium is watercolor. wish me luck 🤞

[@cmeblu75]

Thank you so much for this video. I had to pause & screenshot your white tubes, bcuz I was wondering why I have all this zinc white and not titanium white, but it’s bcuz zinc is a mixing white I’m guessing while titanium is brighter? Although I’m still not 100% sure. With watercolor I don’t use white and if I do it’s titanium for highlights. This video was very helpful, definitely knowing which white to use would be extremely useful too. Thank you

[@reddevil211287]

I like the gouache crowd. Calming :)

[@kiddieplaytime101]

LOVE your sketch book at the end. Good work and thanks

[@OnePillKillz]

Thank you so much for this !! I've watched many and you explained so much clearer. I tried the first time yesterday and was do frustrating 🤣 I will be binge watching your videos. Also, I've seen people add glycerin when building a pallet , what is your thought on that ?

[@JessChungArt]

yay i'm so glad to hear that! don't worry you'll get the hang of gouache with more practice. I've actually never heard of adding glycerin so I'm not too sure about it, sorry! I'll have to look into it more

[@EmilyChristensen-kv4nw]

Just bought an affordable kit so I can learn this medium, thank you so much for these great videos!

[@elgabenedicta]

Very good video! I've many gouache 'how to" videos and most fell short in showing and explaining clearly as this video does. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏

[@herlinasoekoer5403]

Thank you for your generous sharing with us! It very helpful really! God bless you

[@worldpeac3]

good tips and you have a lovely voice for teaching!

[@onethousandstars_8102]

Thank you for the video. I started using gouache few days ago and struggled a bit. This is going to be very useful.

[@scottwalker2398]

Hi Jess. Really enjoying your video's. This one will save me a lot of paint and time. Thank you.

[@raraimler7461]

The tip about not diluting your gouache with water to achieve lighter tones. So helpful!

[@natashat2702]

wow your art is amazingly real looking !!!!

[@monican6104]

Wet Palette is an amazing solution 🤩 a total game changer!!

[@saahara223]

I've been drawing digitally for the past few years and never done any traditional art other than pencil sketches. My gouache just came last week and I hope I can get back to traditional art somehow. Thanks for the tip!

[@saahara223]

@dev null dude. It's something called personal preference

[@mynameismynameismynameismy4565]

9:42 I do this all tye time and it didn't end well , I'm so thankful for this onw

[@victoriaw8605]

I just ordered a gouache set and this video was perfect. Thank you!

[@BozInk]

Oh my goodness your work was so awesome to see at the end of the video ! 👏 bravo 🙌

[@aannikahaafsa]

This was so helpful 😮 i did notice few of them while doing thank you for sharing

[@loisstern6667]

I'm so glad I found your channel using gouache paint. I have never used it and want to try. I look forward to viewing your videos. Thank you!