Painting in Gouache - a complete guide from Udemy

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Syllabus

Introduction

I'm so excited that you are going to be painting with me in gouache! I love the ease and simplicity of painting in this medium, and throughout this course I want to share with you some of the techniques and ways of working that will free you to paint expressively and to create beautiful artwork. I want you to be inspired about painting in gouache, because I think you will love it!

Let me show you what paints, brushes, paper etc.. I am going to use during this course. You can use the same as me or whatever you have already at home. Don't forget to download the Gouache Materials List pdf from Resources.

Painting techniques

Let's start by using gouache in a way that will be familiar to most of us - let's use it thinned down like watercolour.

Gouache is normally used as an opaque medium, so let's use it really thick and creamy this time so that we get a flat matt finish! Download the original photo and a copy of my painting in the Resources section accompanying this video.

Gouache is a very forgiving medium, so let's see how we can make changes to a painting. In this lesson we will see how we can create sunbeams by wiping away dry paint. This technique can also be used for wiping out mistakes and starting over.

Continuing our theme of making changes, let's learn how to cover up our mistakes or improve things in our paintings!

Allowing thin paint to mingle wet into wet will give us a great base on which to work with opaque color. Let's see how this works in a painting of a boat and its reflections.

Dripping is one of my favourite techniques for applying gouache. It's great for trees, waves on the sea and anything where we want a bit of loose detail.

Drybrush adds even more texture - use it for getting sparkle and complex colours.

Create wonderful random organic spots, and create a sense of distance with these simple techniques.

Let's learn how to blend colours together to make a seamless transition perfect for sunsets and still life.

Different types of brushes make different types of marks, so let's capitalize on this to bring more interest to our pictures.

The painting isn't necessarily finished when you put down your brush. Let's add extra marks and details with pastels and coloured pencils.

Gouache is a great medium for painting and sketching outdoors. As we have seen you can create beautiful small pictures quickly, with the advantage that you do not have to carry much equipment with you. Gouache dries fast and so is easily portable.

In this lesson I will show you my outdoor sketching kit and you can download the instructions and make your own box like mine if you would like to!

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Painting in Gouache - a complete guide with these activities:

Practice Color Mixing Techniques

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Reinforce your understanding of color relationships and how to achieve desired hues with gouache before starting the course.

Browse courses on Color Mixing

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Gather gouache paints, a palette, water, and brushes.
Create a color chart by mixing primary colors to create secondary and tertiary colors.
Experiment with different ratios of paint to water to understand opacity and transparency.

Review 'Gouache in Practice' by Zoe Burke

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Expand your knowledge of gouache techniques and applications with a dedicated guide.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Gouache in Practice' by Zoe Burke.
Read the chapters on different gouache techniques, such as dry brushing and layering.
Try out one of the step-by-step tutorials in the book.

Review 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter' by James Gurney

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Deepen your understanding of color theory and light, which are crucial for successful gouache painting.

View Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions) on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Color and Light' by James Gurney.
Read the chapters on color temperature and atmospheric perspective.
Apply the concepts learned to a small gouache painting.

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Practice Blending Techniques

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Improve your ability to create smooth transitions between colors in gouache, a skill emphasized in the course.

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Prepare gouache paints in two or three different colors.
Practice blending the colors together on paper using different brush techniques.
Experiment with wet-on-wet and dry brushing blending methods.

Create a Gouache Color Palette Reference

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Solidify your understanding of color mixing and create a useful reference tool for future gouache paintings.

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Choose a limited palette of gouache colors.
Mix various color combinations and paint them onto a reference chart.
Label each color swatch with the corresponding paint mixture.

Paint a Small Gouache Landscape

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Apply the techniques learned in the course to create a complete gouache painting.

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Select a landscape photograph as a reference.
Sketch the basic composition onto watercolor paper.
Paint the landscape using gouache, focusing on color mixing and blending.
Add details and highlights to complete the painting.

Share Your Gouache Paintings Online

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Receive feedback on your work and connect with other gouache painters.

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Photograph your gouache paintings.
Create an account on an online art platform, such as Instagram or DeviantArt.
Share your paintings and engage with other artists.

Career center

Learners who complete Painting in Gouache - a complete guide will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Fine Artist

A fine artist creates original works of art, often for exhibition and sale. This course helps build a foundation in painting skills, specifically using gouache. The course's focus on painting projects, techniques for creating textures, and blending colors may be quite helpful for fine artists looking to expand their repertoire or explore new mediums. The lessons on making changes during the painting process and adding details with pastels and colored pencils may be useful in refining their artistic vision. Fine artists may find the course helpful in developing their unique style and artistic expression through gouache.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fine Artist

Illustrator

An illustrator creates images for books, magazines, websites, and other media. This career relies heavily on artistic skill and an understanding of color, composition, and various painting techniques. This course may assist aspiring illustrators in developing their gouache painting skills, which can be applied to a wide range of illustration projects. The course's emphasis on painting techniques, creating textures, and blending colors may be helpful in producing high-quality illustrations. The lesson on outdoor sketching may be particularly relevant for illustrators who work on location.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Textile Designer

Textile designers create the patterns and designs for woven, knitted, or printed fabrics. They need an understanding of color, texture, and manufacturing processes. This course may be useful for textile designers who want to incorporate hand-painted elements into their designs or create original artwork for textiles. The course's emphasis on painting techniques, creating textures, and blending colors may be helpful for developing unique and visually appealing textile designs. The lesson on different types of brushes may also be helpful for exploring different textures and effects.

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Game Artist

A game artist creates the visual elements for video games, including characters, environments, and user interfaces. This role relies heavily on artistic skill and an understanding of game development processes. This course may assist aspiring game artists in developing their painting skills, which can be applied to creating textures, concept art, or even hand-painted assets for games. The course's emphasis on painting techniques, creating textures, and blending colors may be helpful in producing high-quality visuals for video games. The lesson on outdoor sketching may be particularly relevant for game artists who draw inspiration from real-world environments.

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Surface Pattern Designer

Surface pattern designers create repeating designs for various products, such as textiles, wallpaper, and packaging. This career utilizes artistic skills and an understanding of design principles. This course may be useful for surface pattern designers looking to incorporate hand-painted elements into their designs. The gouache painting techniques taught in the course, such as creating textures and blending colors, may be helpful for creating unique and visually appealing patterns. The course's emphasis on painting projects may assist surface pattern designers in developing their artistic skills and generating new design ideas.

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Concept Artist

A concept artist creates visual representations of ideas for video games, movies, and other media. This role requires strong artistic skills and an understanding of visual storytelling. This course may assist concept artists in experimenting with gouache as a medium for creating quick sketches and preliminary designs. the course's emphasis on painting techniques, creating textures, and blending colors may be helpful for conveying mood, atmosphere, and detail in concept art. The lesson on outdoor sketching may also be relevant for concept artists who draw inspiration from real-world environments.

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Muralist

A muralist designs and paints large-scale artwork directly onto walls or other surfaces. A strong understanding of painting techniques and color mixing is helpful for creating visually stunning murals. This course may assist muralists in experimenting with gouache as a medium for smaller studies or preparatory sketches. The course's lessons on creating textures, blending colors, and making changes during the painting process may translate well to the challenges of mural painting. The gouache techniques covered may be particularly helpful for muralists seeking to add depth and detail to their large-scale works.

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Set Designer

Set designers create the physical environment for theater, film, and television productions. They work closely with the director and other members of the creative team to develop a cohesive and visually appealing set. This course may assist set designers in experimenting with gouache as a medium for creating small-scale models or concept sketches. The course's lessons on creating textures and blending colors may translate well to the challenges of simulating different materials and creating realistic effects on stage or screen. The gouache techniques covered may be helpful for set designers seeking cost-effective and visually impactful ways to enhance their designs.

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Scenic Artist

A scenic artist paints backdrops and scenery for theater, film, and television productions. Scenic artists need a strong understanding of painting techniques, color theory, and perspective. This course may assist scenic artists in developing their painting skills and exploring the possibilities of gouache as a medium for small-scale scenic designs or studies. The course's lessons on creating textures and blending colors may be particularly relevant for simulating different materials and creating realistic effects on stage or screen.

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Animator

Animators create moving images using various techniques, including hand-drawn animation, computer animation, and stop-motion animation. This course may assist animators looking to incorporate traditional painting techniques into their work or to develop a better understanding of color and composition. The emphasis on painting techniques and the ability to create textures may be helpful for bringing depth and visual interest to animated characters and environments. The course may be useful for animators who want to explore new ways to enhance their storytelling through visual art.

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Storyboard Artist

A storyboard artist creates a sequence of drawings or paintings that visually represent a film, television show, or commercial. This role requires strong drawing skills and an understanding of composition and visual storytelling. This course may assist storyboard artists in experimenting with gouache as a medium for creating quick and expressive storyboards. The course's emphasis on painting techniques and the ability to make changes during the painting process may be helpful for rapidly visualizing scenes and conveying narrative ideas. The outdoor sketching lesson may also be relevant for artists who work on location.

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Production Designer

Production designers are responsible for the overall look and feel of a film or television production. They oversee the design and construction of sets, costumes, and props. This course may be useful for production designers who want to explore different artistic styles and techniques for creating visual concepts. The course's emphasis on painting techniques, creating textures, and blending colors may be helpful for developing a cohesive and visually appealing aesthetic for a production. The lessons on making changes during the painting process and adding details with pastels and colored pencils may also be relevant for refining the overall look of a scene.

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Art Director

An art director is responsible for the overall visual style and image of a project, such as a magazine, advertising campaign, or film. While an advanced degree is often required, the art director must oversee all aspects of the visual elements. This course may assist art directors in developing a deeper understanding of painting techniques and the creative process. The course's emphasis on painting projects and techniques may be helpful for communicating artistic vision to a team. The course may allow an art director to make informed decisions about the selection and use of artwork in their projects.

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Exhibition Designer

Exhibition designers create displays and layouts for museums, galleries, and trade shows. They need to blend artistic vision with an understanding of spatial design and visitor experience. This course may be useful for exhibition designers who want to incorporate original artwork or hand-painted elements into their exhibition designs. The course's emphasis on painting techniques, creating textures, and blending colors may be helpful for creating visually engaging and informative exhibits. The skills gained in this course may allow exhibition designers to create compelling and immersive experiences for visitors.

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Art Restorer

Art restorers clean, repair, and preserve works of art. While an advanced degree is often required, they typically require a deep understanding of art history, materials, and techniques. This course may be useful for providing a practical understanding of gouache painting techniques, which could be helpful in the restoration of gouache paintings. The course's emphasis on painting techniques, blending colors, and making changes during the painting process may offer insight into the original artist's methods and choices. This may provide context for art restorers when working on gouache artworks.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Painting in Gouache - a complete guide.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Practical guide to using gouache, covering various techniques and applications. It includes step-by-step tutorials and examples of different painting styles. This book will add more depth to the course by providing additional techniques and inspiration for using gouache. It useful reference tool for both beginners and experienced painters.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara

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Provides a comprehensive understanding of color theory and light behavior, essential for realistic painting. It covers topics such as color temperature, atmospheric perspective, and the interaction of light and shadow. While not specific to gouache, the principles discussed are universally applicable and will enhance your ability to create convincing and visually appealing paintings. This book is more valuable as additional reading to deepen your understanding of color and light.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions)

Hardcover

Painting in Gouache - a complete guide

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