What Can You Do With Gouache?

At The Art Store, we’re celebrating the bold, the matte, the ultra-pigmented magic of gouache this week! And believe us, there’s a lot to love!  If you’ve never dabbled, or if your tubes have been sitting quietly in the back of your studio drawer, it’s time to bring gouache center stage.

 

So the big question is: What can you do with gouache?

Short answer: A whole lot!

 

Gouache is beloved by illustrators for a reason—it dries fast, scans beautifully, and gives that rich, velvety texture that looks incredible on the page. Many beloved picture books (hello, Beatrix Potter!) were created with gouache’s charming and opaque color palette. Whether you're telling tales about dragons or doughnuts, gouache gives you the control and vibrancy to make your characters leap off the page.

 

Love bold outlines, punchy color blocks, and expressive textures? Gouache handles like a dream for small-batch comics and indie zines. It works great on mixed media paper and can stand up to layering and reworking—plus, it plays well with ink!

 

Before going all-in on canvas and oil, many painters do quick gouache studies. Why? Because gouache mimics the opacity of oils, but dries in minutes, not days/weeks. Perfect for working out composition, color schemes, and lighting...without committing gallons of medium and hours of drying time!

 

Take your palette outdoors! Gouache is compact, re-wets easily (hello, travel palette), and gives gorgeous, painterly effects without the mess of oils or the translucency of watercolor. Our Holbein Gouache selection is especially ideal for plein air—no chalky finish, no cracking, just pure, saturated color.

 

Use it with ink, pencil, colored pencil, watercolor, even collage—gouache is the ultimate team player. Try layering transparent watercolor washes under gouache details, or create textures by dry-brushing gouache over cold-press paper. The only limit? Your imagination.

 

 

This Week’s Featured Tools:

Princeton Umbria Brushes
Elegant, responsive, and just the right snap for gouache. The Umbria series makes blending and detail work a breeze. Save an EXTRA 10% off this week! (Use online code GOUACHE at checkout)

 

Holbein Artists’ Gouache
High pigment load, buttery texture, and exceptional coverage. These are professional-grade paints that don’t disappoint.

 

Ready to level up your gouache game? Join us in-store for upcoming workshops! Space is limited.

 

Remember: Studio Society members get early access!

 

Ready to Say “Oh My Gouache!”?

 

Come visit us at The Art Store this week and explore our featured gouache displays, brushes, papers, and class signups. Whether you’re an illustrator, painter, or simply curious, there’s never been a better time to see what gouache can do for you!

 

Stay creative!

 

XOXOX,

Your Friendly Neighborhood Art Store