I’ve been painting with gouache consistently since Spring of 2023 and here are my most used gouache supplies. Since then I’ve painted a series of flower landscapes, patterns with fruits & vegetables, and portraits of cacti & succulents. Before gouache, I painted exclusively with watercolor. I’m growing in my creativity and flexibility in using multiple media, and I’m so glad gouache is a part of it.
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In this post, I want to share some of my most used supplies for gouache. This list will differ from artist to artist because we all have our own preferences. But if you look at my work, this is what I’m using the majority of the time.
You’ll notice that a lot of these supplies can also be used for watercolor. So that’s why if you started with watercolor, making the transition to gouache will be somewhat seamless.
PAINTS
I’ve actually tried a few gouache brands and decided that I like Holbein the best. The paints are so creamy, they reactivate easily, and they’re incredibly opaque.
In other brands, I’ve seen streaky lines. Sometimes they dry chalky. The lighter colors aren’t as opaque. And it’s frustrating to use paints like this.
Holbein gouache is only available in tubes which is common for most gouache brands. You can squeeze them into pans and let them dry. But I like to use paint fresh from the tube. I’ll share more about palettes later on because sometimes I do let the paint dry so I can reuse them.
I have a few posts on my overview of Holbein paints. This one was back in 2021 when I first got the set of 12 colors. And this second one was more recent and it reviews the Irodori collection.
COLORED PENCILS
While I’ve used cheap colored pencils before, I decided to invest in Caran D’Ache Pablo colored pencils. These pencils are creamy to draw with as well, and I love the color range. You can check out the full swatching in this video. I use them primarily to add outlines, texture, and to sketch with. See how I used them in my tutorials.
PENCIL
I’ve become somewhat of a pencil snob now thanks to being part of the art world. When it comes to drawing, it’s really important that I’m able to erase it with ease.
The Draughting pencil from General’s is a current favorite. It maintains its sharp point for a long time. And erasers have no problem with it.
I also use watercolor pencils from time to time. I use these two sketch my painting as well like I did with these fruit and veggie patterns.
I have various watercolor pencils from different brands like Staetdler, Winsor & Newton, and General’s. I’m partial to Staetdler since I’ve used it the longest, but I’m not too particular about my watercolor pencils since I’m not using them to paint with but more to sketch with.
ERASER
Kneaded eraser is a must must must especially if you sketch first before you paint.
I’ve found it difficult to erase pencil lines after you’ve painted over them. And kneaded erasers do the hard part of removing the graphite from the pencil lines without compromising the paper’s quality. Plus they last forever. I’ve had this putty of kneaded eraser for 5+ years probably. If I need to “clean” it, I’ll use a little bit of soap and warm water. Be careful not to use too much water and constantly blot it because otherwise it will become pulpy and fall apart. In the many years I’ve had this, I’ve only washed it a few times. Sometimes I’ll add a new piece of kneaded eraser and let that fold into itself.
The other eraser I’ve used a lot is the Faber Castell eraser. It leaves some eraser shavings but produces little dust and i’m also just one of those people that want to use up a product before immediately moving onto something new.
BRUSHES
If you already have brushes for watercolor, the great news is that you can use the same brushes! While I do recommend less absorbent brushes for gouache, start with what you have.
For painting in backgrounds or large areas, I like to use a 1/2″ flat brush or a round size 10. I’ve noticed that if I go too large with a round size brush, I end up soaking up a lot more water and paint than I might need. So I tend to use smaller brushes. Plus, I paint smaller illustrations in general, so I gravitate towards round brushes that are sizes 1, 2, 3, and 6.
PAPER
I started out by using watercolor cold-pressed paper. There are pros and cons to using them, but when it all comes down to it, it’s based on your preference. If you like detailed illustrations with minimal texture, use hot pressed watercolor paper. If you don’t use a lot of water in your gouache, then you can use mixed media which is thinner than watercolor paper.
I painted my 100 day project in the Reflexions watercolor journal from Jerry’s Artarama and didn’t have any problems. But I also bought a Canson Mixed Media bound journal to continue my practicing with gouache. I even used the mixed media with watercolor which turned out well. Just be mindful not to use as much water.
If you know of a hot-pressed watercolor journal.. let me know! I’d love to try it out.
PALETTES
Besides paints, a palette was probably the only big thing that I felt that I needed to purchase. I already owned this ceramic flower petal palette which I used for almost every single painting from my 100 day project. Ceramic palettes won’t stain and they’re very easy to clean and maintain. The only downside is that there isn’t a lid. So I usually keep it covered with my journal or a piece of paper towel.
The Sta-Wet Palette was a great purchase. It comes with a sponge, a few pieces of palette paper. Once you wet the sponge inside, and place the palette paper on top, it will keep your paints moistened. Perfect for paints that you don’t want to dry out because you can’t reactivate them! Although gouache can be reactivated with water, the consistency just isn’t the same and I often have to add more gouache to maintain that consistency.
I’ve also heard other artists mention that you should open it every once in a while to get some circulation to prevent mold. I personally haven’t seen that happening and sometimes I went weeks without opening it.
Depending on your color choices, you may not have to change out the paper that often. In the course of a year, I’ve change out my palette paper only once.
OTHER SUPPLIES
Other supplies that I’d recommend are:
- spray bottle
- hair dryer
- washi tape
- and a white gel pen
The spray bottle, hair dryer, and washi tape are for similar reasons as I would give for painting with watercolor. A spray bottle to keep your paints moist. A hair dryer will help speed up the drying process. I actually like using a hair dryer with gouache because since you use less water, the paint doesn’t go sliding around on the paper when you use the hair dryer. And washi tape is great for masking a white border around your paper.
The white gel pen was and is a favorite. I used it multiple times in my 100 day project especially in my fruits & vegetable patterns. It was so much easier to add fine details. Plus, there’s no shame in using mixed media! Go for it!
So what do you think? Would you give gouache a try especially if you’re already into watercolor?
Watch the video of my most used gouache supplies to learn more. I can’t wait to take you on this gouache journey with me. Stay tuned for basic techniques, tutorials, etc.
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