Everything you need to paint with gouache!
I get asked all the time for recommendations for a gouache starter kit, so I’ve put all my favorites here in one place for easy reference. These are all things I use and love and will get you painting with gouache in no time!
Paint
If you are looking for a basic paint set to get started with, I would recommend the Arteza 24 set or the Jeece Finest 24 set. Both of these brands are really nice to work with and come with a great variety of colors to get you started.
If you want more info on different gouache brands, you can check out this post, where I go over all the different gouache I use.
Paper
Any paper designed for watercolor will work best for gouache. You don't need expensive cotton paper, and I would recommend a watercolor sketchbook to paint in while you learn; this will keep all of your paintings together and stop you from throwing away things you don't like. At some point you’ll be so glad you can flick through and see how far you’ve come! I like the Field Artist sketchbooks or the Arteza linen-bound sketchbooks.
If you want loose paper, the Canson XL watercolor paper is an excellent choice!
Brushes
Choose brushes designed for acrylics for the best results. I use and love the Kingart Original Gold Series and also their Finesse line.
Palette
Any smooth surface that can be wiped clean makes a great palette! You can buy inexpensive plastic palettes or use a regular dinner plate (if you use a dinner plate, keep it for painting rather than eating!).
Handy tips!
Start with the gouache basics; the LBC’s!
These are:
Layering
Blending and
Consistency
Familiarizing yourself with these three techniques will help you every time you paint! If you want some tips and exercises for developing these skills, sign up for The Gouache Mob; it's completely free and I email you handy lessons and tricks for painting with gouache!
A great tutorial to get you started!
If you are looking for a great beginner tutorial that uses all the basic gouache techniques, give this rainy lake painting a go! If you share your finished painting on Instagram or TikTok, tag me @ruthwilshaw so I can come and cheer you on!
All the info!
If you want ALL THE INFO in one convenient guide, without having to hunt through articles, you can check out my Get Going with Gouache eBook! This 39 page guide covers everything you need to know:
My must-have supplies
All about color
Basic techniques
& includes 2 step-by-step tutorials to get you started.
Psst...
If you join The Gouache Mob, you can get a code to save 20% off my gouache guides!