3 Gouache Mistakes to Avoid

I started my gouache journey pretty well prepared but there were still gouache mistakes that I made. Here are three of the most common gouache mistakes you want to avoid and how to work on them. More videos and posts will follow so please stay tuned!

I want to preface the three mistakes by saying that they’re not necessarily “mistakes”, because I firmly believe that you can use art supplies HOWEVER you want. But if you’re looking to use it in a more “traditional” way, then these are some mistakes you want to avoid or work on.

Gouache Mistake #1: Using too much water

Now if you’re like me and used to watercolor, then adding a lot of water might feel normal. But gouache is meant to be opaque. So if you add too much water, then you end up thinning the paint to the point that it becomes transparent like watercolor. If you’re finding yourself frustrated because you’re not getting the right consistency of paint, it might be either because you’re using too much water or because the paint quality is not good enough. Start by adding just a small amount of water and get a feel for the consistency. And then paint with it and see how you like it.

Like I mentioned, I’ve added a lot of water before to get very transparent layers. Like in my livestream paintings of fruits and vegetables, I watered down the inside of the fruit in order to get a lighter value. But then used the full opacity of the paint to get the darker values.

I plan on coming out with a detailed look at gouache consistency, but for now check out the watercolor consistency video which will have similar principles.

Gouache Mistake #2: Not waiting for previous layer to dry

The beauty of gouache is that you can layer lighter colors on top of dark and still be able to see them. With watercolors, you can’t do this because they’re transparent. But because gouache is a water-soluble paint, you have to wait for it to completely dry before you do any layering, unless you’re going for the bleed/bloom look.

Check out my favorite gouache supplies!

Usually gouache artists go for a flat, matte look. So if that’s what you’re looking for, be patient and let it dry. Or use a hair dryer.

I’ve used both styles. I’ve let the paint sort of bleed into each other like I did with this Blue Myrtle Cactus.

But I’ve also waited for paint to completely dry before layering like I did in this hydrangea painting.

Gouache Mistake #3: Not swatching colors first

Gouache dries slightly darker than when you first lay it down on paper. This is the opposite of watercolor where it dries lighter. I always use my scrap pieces of paper for swatching and testing my colors.

On a related note, also make sure the colors you want to use work well together. This is a highly personal choice, so I can’t say whether one color scheme is better than the other. All I’m saying is, swatch ALL of your colors first. Place them next to each other. Look at it under different lighting situations.

Take your time with this step instead of jumping in because being confident in your color choices can make the actual painting a little easier to paint.

Well, what do you think? Do you have gouache mistakes that you’ve encountered on your gouache journey? Please leave a comment below so we can grow together.

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