Sketchbook Techniques for Gouache - How To Get Started With Gouache Paint

[@celiawilson6448]

I use the old paint that has dried on the palette to mix with fresh gouache when I want to mix colours. Seems to work very well. I hate wasting paint!

[@NatureSketchbook]

That's a great idea as well!

[@Ieat2much]

Me too with wasting paint, that’s why I don’t dabble in acrylics. What a great idea, seems so obvious now that you mention it, but I didn’t even think of it. I just paint with palette dirt till it’s almost gone, and then add fresh pigment to mix. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@graysbygrace]

Always thought about this.

[@suzannemarshall7458]

I use the paint that has been dried on my pallette all the time. Some interesting colors result and adding fresh makes it all work well too. I also hate to waste any.

[@gillinacook1477]

I use a stay wet pallet for my gouache. I think you would like very much. I bought it from Amazon. Wandic pallet box air tight.

[@oliferous]

Thanks, I'm used to watercolor and remembered i had some cheap gouache so i had to try them! And now i think i need some real quality paints! Everything you said made sense and i appreciate this video. Cheers!

[@stolenzephyr]

Just got a set of gouache paints and found this very helpful! Thanks!

[@NatureSketchbook]

Awesome, hope you enjoy gouache!!

[@michaelantonio6643]

Same haha

[@opabinnier]

Very helpful, thanks! I just started gouache and went straight for an ambitious portrait. Silly. After two sessions I was broken: it was so despiriting not feeling in control... I got secretly depressed and gave up. A week later, today, I looked at it again and thought I could salvage the painting (the likeness, at least, was very good) and so I calmed down and it worked. Time to do some more gouache! More practice needed- and watching you will help so much!

[@NatureSketchbook]

Yeah, keep trying, it's going to feel better. I haven't painted with my gouache in quite some time, I should get back to it. Enjoy your painting sessions! :-)

[@JoAnneMOwens]

I am so excited to find your channel, Julia! I love your work and share your interest in the natural world. I have just developed a real interest in gouache, which I how I found your channel. I own beginning sets of gouache and more watercolors than I can possibly use in my lifetime, but I haven’t really done much with either one yet. Looking forward to learning from you! Thank you for posting this video!

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you for saying hello Jo Anne! I hope you enjoy exploring gouache and watercolor, both are fun to paint with. Just start somewhere, the rest will come. 🌿😊

[@JoAnneMOwens]

@@NatureSketchbook Thank you for the encouragement, Julia, it is most appreciated ✨

[@susanbeaumont9478]

This was so informative and helpful, Julia! Thank you for pointing out some great uses for gouache. I'm currently learning watercolours but have used white gouache a little bit and I can see its value! Many thanks for your comprehensive and practical posts and for the beautiful examples you've painted. Would love to see you paint a scene like the sea coast one you showed. Take good care and happy painting!

[@NatureSketchbook]

You're welcome Susan, I hope you enjoy exploring the medium. Gouache and watercolors complement each other very well. I did a video on the coast scene: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqXUaGRsq8apqtU I'll share more landscape videos soon. Stay safe! ❤️

[@ruthiams8165]

Clear simple inspirational exclamation point

[@masja1790]

Thank you so much. I have bought schminke gouache....but I am finding the courage to get started 😂 this video was very helpful

[@NatureSketchbook]

Just jump in and try it out. It's just paint on paper and you can always start over. 😊

[@sallyx7111]

Love the video. I'm starting to learn gouache. Its fun. Thanks for the info

[@NatureSketchbook]

You're welcome! Ahh, I need to get out my gouache again, it has been a while. :)

[@btwilks]

As mentioned in a comment from a few days ago, I'm a new subscriber to your channel (and am also very new to gouache). I'm slowly working through your demonstration videos and found this 'starting out' video very useful as an initial guide as to what to expect from this new (to me) medium. Many thanks, Brian.

[@NatureSketchbook]

I'm glad this helps you, Brian! I hope you'll enjoy exploring gouache. If you have any questions, let me know. :-)

[@monsoongirlnyc]

Very useful video. I love the landscape sketches in your notebook.

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you!

[@tatyanastepanova8341]

Your mixing charts are great!

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thanks!

[@jenna2431]

I stopped fighting the drying. I use a Mijelo palette and spray the paint while I set up. I use a mix of Talens, WN, and selected other brands.

[@sukanyadeb2569]

Thank you Julia, this is such a helpful video. I am thinking of starting with Gouache and your video is just the best one I have come across. Thank you for so patiently explaining everything that a newbie would want to know :)

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! :-)

[@elizzievb]

Thanks for a great video! Very helpful. Your birds are fabulous and the tip for butterflies I will definitely use. I’m just starting gouache. ❤️

[@NatureSketchbook]

You're very welcome. :-) Enjoy exploring gouache, it's a fun medium!

[@Midgy21747]

Thank you for a very informative video.

[@beekay9552]

Hello Julia, I just watched this video on gouache and found it very helpful. I noticed in another of your videos that you put your fresh gouache paint on a wet piece of paper towel and wondered if that is how you usually set up your paint pallet. I’m just getting into trying gouache from watching you’re videos and thought I’d ask. I love your teaching method videos, I’ve found you’re a lot easier to follow than some of the others I’ve watched.

[@NatureSketchbook]

Yes, I often squeeze the paint on a strip of wet paper towel to keep it moist for longer. Gouache wants to stay moist. You can also use a spray bottle from time to time. And thank you for the kind words, I‘m happy to hear that! 😊

[@maureenparker5291]

Thank you. This is a very useful and informative video.

[@HoneyRoseSwimwearOutlet]

Great advice. Looking forward to creating using Gouache now.

[@NatureSketchbook]

I hope you'll enjoy gouache!

[@sylviasmith1769]

Very informative video. I'm a watercolor artist, but would like to add gouache to my skills.

[@travelbonne4872]

Excellent video ❤

[@chrissie4452]

Thank you so much Julia, as this is very helpful. I tend to buy too many colors and yes, it is complicated to choose a simple palette out of too many. I paint with gouache as often as watercolor and it’s funny but just yesterday I bought some Acrylagouache from Holbein’s and will try the, this afternoon. I know that we can’t rewet them and they dry fast so I will find some different uses. As for the Gouache, I use mostly Holbein’s and Winsor & Newton. I love very much my Schmincke watercolors and I would love to try their gouaches, they are such a high quality. Not so many store sell this brand here in Montreal, but I can easily order them from Jackson’s Art in London.

[@NatureSketchbook]

It definitely is difficult to only choose a few colors, I know the challenge! But it tends to make the paintings better and you can make a new choice before each painting. I haven't tried Acryla gouache yet, but I hope you'll enjoy it!! It can be hard to get a certain brand locally, which is why I always say get the highest quality paint you have easy access to. I live in Schmincke-country, so for me that's easier than trying to find Holbein paints (although I'd love to try them). W&N seem to sell worldwide. They're all hight-quality brands! ;-) Happy painting!!

[@auburnandgrey4457]

Well done. Just found you. Thank you for teaching on YT. Your birds are lovely. Very inspiring. Started bird watching last Spring, taking photos, and now want to try painting as a hobby.

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you, I really appreciate it. Birding and painting goes well together, as well as nature photography and painting!

[@philemerson4856]

Thank you for this video - I'm new to gouache (as in I've never dipped a brush in it) and until I watched your video, I was planning on getting a set of gouache pans, like my watercolours. I'm glad I watched your video though - now I know that tubes are a much better way to go!

[@NatureSketchbook]

You're welcome Phil, I hope you 'll enjoy your gouache adventures!

[@tericarter2886]

Thank you for your very helpful information I mostly use watercolor but am falling in love with the vibrancy of gouache I would love to see more videos of complete gouache paintings Thanks again

[@NatureSketchbook]

I will try to make more gouache videos soon! 😊

[@tericarter2886]

@@NatureSketchbook Thank you I am looking forward to it

[@TheWipal]

I just cant bring myself to make my life harder anymore, we're getting crazy, we throwing white on that watercolor pallet >:D

[@NatureSketchbook]

Whatever works best for you! :-)

[@tericarter2886]

Your journal is wonderful Thank you for the video I want to try gouache soon

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you very much. I hope you enjoy painting with gouache. :-)

[@Iley1_500]

I love how goauche looks a lot like as if it was a digital painting.

[@anneseaillustration]

This is another great one! :) I love watching your videos! I just started using gouache yesterday to complement my watercolour painting, and they are so different! I'm glad I found your video as it shed some light on own to use gouache paints better :)

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you! Enjoy exploring your gouache. It's different, but worth it. :-)

[@Meisuko]

Very useful video. Thank you.

[@jekalambert9412]

I prefer to work from dried gouache because it's more economical than working with paint directly from the tube. I don't find mixing dried paint to be more difficult. I use a dropper to wet the paint at the beginning of a painting session. With this method, the dried paint reactivates well and I can mix it to a creamy consistency that mimics paint straight from the tube. Some gouache brands crumble more than others, but the tendency to crumble when dry makes it more suited for the studio. The bumping that occurs in a travel palette is likely to cause the dried paint to break into pieces. Arteza gouache always crumbles. Holbein gouache does not. Talens Art Creation brand cracks but doesn't crumble in my palette. I keep my Arteza gouache in lidded palettes from Amazon that have deep wells similar to ice cube trays. These palettes eliminate the problem of crumbled bits of dried paint mixing with each other.

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@galedar1537]

Thanks for this terrific video! I noticed that your watercolor sketchbooks seem to be handmade, and that is a great idea! Could you please do a short video showing us how you make them? I am never satisfied with the ones I buy, and also feel the price is always too high. I also wanted to mention that when I use gouache in pans, I put a couple of drops of fairly warm water in each pan before I set up for painting. It helps. Thanks again!

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you! Here's a video I did on making your own sketchbooks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZaZiGtvpZqpZs0 I'm not an expert on this, but this method works well for me. And thanks for the gouache tip, I will try it! :)

[@tinawinget4733]

Love the info.

[@eklipsnoiredinence]

Thank you!

[@muskndusk]

Add at least two drops when you squeeze the paint into the pan. To reconstitute the paint, spray it with a fine mist and leave it for ten minutes while you do something else - maybe sketch - it will then be softer and easier to use. If it begins to dry during the painting session, just spritz it again.

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thanks for the tip! I will try it again with your technique, but I generally find that rewetting paint doesn't work as well as using fresh paint. :-)

[@muskndusk]

No, it will never be as good, but can be more convenient. :)

[@longyarn4288]

I got some of the popular HIMI "jelly cup" gogouache when it first came out and added several drops (if I remember correctly it was 5 or 6 drops) of glycerin per cup. It still cracked as it dried but wasn't too awful and they reconstituted well, so I guess I could have used more. I use a pipette to squirt in filtered water (my tap water is yucky) if I'm going to be doing a large project.

[@lj4466]

I'm just getting started and I'm not sure what brand to start with. I don't want to get cheap bad quality gouache, but I also don't think I need to splurge on artist grade yet lol What would you or anyone in the comments recommend? I heard you mention a good student option but I couldn't make out the name.

[@NatureSketchbook]

Winsor & Newton have a decent price for their great quality, they also offer a box with 10 colors I think. Or if you can get it, Royal Talens is a good student grade paint.

[@sallysims5090]

Thank you for the video. Helpful information. :) What kind of sketchbook paper do you like best for working in gouache?

[@NatureSketchbook]

I use different watercolor papers with a weight of at least 300 gsm because it can take water better, and more layers. Cotton paper is very nice to paint on, I like coldpress with a very slight tooth to it. For gouache it doesn't matter that much which particular paper, because once you have an underpainting in place the paint layers will hold together well. Hope that helps a bit!

[@sallysims5090]

Yes, that helps. That's along my line of thinking too. I've been experimenting with Rough watercolor paper recently, but not using gouache on it. I like Stephen Quiller's gouache on Rough paper approach. Enjoy your day/evening.

[@NatureSketchbook]

@@sallysims5090 Oh I have to check him out, I almost never use rough paper. Thank you for the tip!

[@sallysims5090]

@@NatureSketchbook Yes, he's good at using acrylics, watercolor, casein, and gouache in innovative ways.

[@koolkutz7]

Very helpful thanks Julia. I have just bought some gouche paints so it should be fun to try them out. How do you make your gouche paints lighter out of the tube; use white or just dilute with water?

[@NatureSketchbook]

I typically add white if the paint layer needs to be opaque, water will make the paint transparent and runny, and not much lighter. Hope you enjoy your gouache experiments!

[@koolkutz7]

@@NatureSketchbook Thanks Julia, appreciated. Happy painting :-)

[@albibert]

Thank you, very interesting video. I follow you.

[@clarewarp1384]

I use an Altoids tin as a palate too. 😂

[@a.rizapahlevi9659]

Very informative.. Tks.

[@artifexmom3824]

I admire your nice technique so much! Thanks for sharing your nice tutorial.☺️💕👍🏻 Hello 👋🏻 I’m your newest follower.☺️👍🏻 God bless and please keep safe always.☺️🙏🏻

[@NatureSketchbook]

Welcome and thank you! 😊🌸

[@artifexmom3824]

Julia Bausenhardt My pleasure and stay awesome always.☺️💕🙏🏻

[@paulwoodford6229]

I use only black and white gouache, so i have loads of white, lol. It is kind of less expensive than buying all the colors.

[@michaelmaleedy2749]

What a beautiful speaking voice

[@beckbabej]

The painting with the clip on it (darker blue water and red rocks) looks like a woman's face laying sideways in the rocks . :) Thanks for this helpful video.

[@NatureSketchbook]

How cool, I've never seen it this way! :-)

[@Skinnychelle48]

New sub!

[@NatureSketchbook]

Thank you and welcome! :-)