Ever seen a painting that looks both vibrant like watercolor but has the solid coverage of acrylic? That magical medium is likely gouache! It’s a favorite among illustrators and designers for its unique, matte finish that truly pops off the page. But let’s be honest: diving into the world of gouache can feel overwhelming. Which brands are the best? Do you need student-grade or professional quality? Many artists feel lost trying to figure out the perfect set to buy without wasting money on tubes that don’t perform.
Choosing the right gouache paint matters because the wrong set can lead to muddy colors and frustrating mixing experiences. We understand that pain point! This post cuts through the noise. By the end of this guide, you will know exactly what features to look for, how different types of gouache perform, and which brands consistently deliver brilliant results for your projects.
Ready to trade confusion for confidence? Let’s explore the wonderful world of gouache and discover the perfect paints waiting for your brush.
Top Gouache Paint Recommendations
- 【24 Vibrant Colors】- This set of gouache paint with 24 eye-catching vibrant colors. Benefit from rich color selection and excellent mixing characteristics, whether you are a beginner or a professional artist, these vivid colors can meet your needs for color, release your unlimited imagination.
- 【High Quality, Rich Pigments】- HIMI gouache colors are made of high-quality pigments, thick and creamy. Feature excellent coverage and great mixing characteristics. Offering opaque watercolors with matt finish. It could be rewet and reworked by water when it dries. It's perfect to paint on watercolor paper and canvas.
- 【Portable Gouache Paint Set】- Comes with 24 jelly cup gouache paint, a palette, and 3 premium paint brushes in a portable carrying case. The unique jelly cup design with an excellent sealing lid keeps our gouache pigments wet and creamy. The all-in-one design makes it easy to carry for both ladies and children. It is perfect for indoor, outdoor, and travel painting.
- 【Safety Guarantee & Non-Toxic】- Made of eco-friendly paint material conforming to ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards. It is safe for all ages from kids to adults. Ideal as a gift for creative adults, artists, beginners, students, kids, teens, boys, and girls at Christmas, Halloween, Birthday and more festivals.
- 【100% Satisfaction Guarantee】- Adhering to the principle of buyer first, we provide 100% after-sales service guarantee. We're sure you'll love our HIMI Gouache Paint Set. But if you are any issues with our products, please feel free to contact us at any time and we will make it right.
- UNIQUE JELLY CUP DESIGN, Upgraded design with excellent sealing lid will keep our gouache paint wet and creamy for getting better painting experience, portable cases is perfect for outdoor painting, also easy to carry.
- 18 LASTING VIBRANT COLORS, Each paint has a fantastic thick consistency which will retain brush or spatula marks and remain a wonderful texture for your painting.
- RICH PIGMENT AND OPAQUE COVERAGE, All paints are thick and creamy, and it won’t become muddy when you stir it , it can be diluted with plenty of water and will not crack or crumb when the paint dries. Beautiful and practical color selection gives best choice for daily painting.
- SAFE AND FUN , They are non-toxic, odorless, and could be easily washed by the water, absolutely suits for artist, beginners, etc.
- Customer satisfaction is very important to us, so contact us if you have any issues or are unhappy with the product and we will guarantee a resolution
- Matte flat finish - When dried, our smooth, matte flat finish reduces light reflection, making it an ideal medium for photographic reproduction using external light sources.
- Viscous consistency - Our sticky texture lends itself to precise applications with a controlled, continuous flow of paint. Drying to an exceptionally smooth, even surface with no brush marks.
- Endless possibilities - Gouache is an iconic painting technique used throughout history and proven to stand the test of time. This set is a perfect introduction the medium and can be used independently, as mixed media or before overlaying with traditional oils.
- Accessible paint - To expand your palette further, upgrade to the next level with Winsor & Newton's Designers Gouache. Popular among designers, illustrators and commercial artists since 1935.
- Contains Titanium White, Process Yellow, Cadmium Yellow Deep Hue, Cadmium Red Hue, Process Magenta, Ultramarine, Process Cyan, Permanent Green Middle, Yellow Ochre, Mars Black
- 36 Color Set: This gouache paint set contains 36 unique colors in large 18ml tubes. The paint is made with artist pigments for high intensity and a smooth consistency.
- Color Mixing Wheel: A double-sided color mixing wheel is included. This gouache paint palette color tool provides information about color terminology and definitions used by artists.
- Mixing & Blending: The paint can be dissolved with water, allowing for easy color mixing and blending. This makes the gouache paint suitable for students to professional illustrators.
- Media & Projects: The paint is appropriate for use with most art media for creating crafts, portrait paintings, abstracts, landscapes, and scenery.
- Safety Standards: Professional gouache paint sets are water-based, and acid-free. They conform to ASTM D4236 and EN71 safety standards.
- 【48 Vibrant Colors】- This set of gouache paint with 48 eye-catching vibrant colors. Benefit from rich color selection and excellent mixing characteristics, whether you are a beginner or a professional artist, these vivid colors can meet your needs for color, release your unlimited imagination.
- 【High Quality, Rich Pigments】- HIMI gouache colors are made of high-quality pigments, thick and creamy. Feature excellent coverage and great mixing characteristics. Offering opaque watercolors with matt finish. It could be rewet and reworked by water when it dries. It's perfect to paint on watercolor paper and canvas.
- 【Portable Gouache Paint Set】- Comes with 48 twin jelly cup gouache paint, a palette, and 3 premium paint brushes in a portable carrying case. The unique jelly cup design with an excellent sealing lid keeps our gouache pigments wet and creamy. The all-in-one design makes it easy to carry. It is perfect for indoor, outdoor, and travel painting.
- 【Safety Guarantee & Non-Toxic】- Made of eco-friendly paint material conforming to ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards. It is safe for all ages from kids to adults. Ideal as a gift for creative adults, artists, beginners, students, kids, teens, boys, and girls at Christmas, Halloween, Birthday and more festivals.
- 【100% Satisfaction Guarantee】- Adhering to the principle of buyer first, we provide 100% after-sales service guarantee. We're sure you'll love our HIMI Gouache Paint Set. But if you are any issues with our products, please feel free to contact us at any time and we will make it right.
- LASTING VIBRANT COLORS 36 Colors 12 g HIMI Split Jelly Gouache , These Non-Toxic paint produces Vivid, Richly Pigmented And Long Lasting Vibrant Colors that dries quickly.
- COMPACT and CONVENIENT DESIGN , Double clasp for opening and closing,Double locks for tighter seal,When the paint was bumped from outside, the lid of the box will not drop, 12g jelly twin cup design,Suitable size, long-lasting durability.
- SAFE AND FUN , They are non-toxic, odorless, and could be easily washed by the water, absolutely suits for artist, beginners, etc. Highest PREMIUM Quality Raw Materials are specially selected to manufacture our PREMIUM quality Gouache paint set that outperform the many Alternatives in the market.
- REASON FOR CHOOSING US, We are thee independently developed by our company.,and the founder of the brand -MIYA, the owner of HIMI, and also the product manufacturer. Under this condition, we can ensure the quality of products and after-sales service. The HIMI series products pattern is also designed by our company's designers. As the founder of this brand, our purpose is to hope that people who like painting can use high-quality and affordable painting pigments.
- Customer satisfaction is very important to us, so contact us if you have any issues or are unhappy with the product and we will guarantee a resolution.
- Winsor & Newton Designers' Gouache colours are made from the finest pigments, offering vibrant, opaque water colours with a flat, matt finish.
- Series: 1/Color Code: 512
- Permanence Rating: A - Permanent
- Transparency / Opacity: Opaque
- Lightfastness Rating: ASTM I
- 36 LASTING VIBRANT COLORS: Each color has 12ml content. Each paint has a fantastic thick consistency which will retain brush or spatula marks and give your work brilliant texture.
- NEW DESIGN: The upgraded unique twin jelly cup design with an excellent sealing lid will keep our gouache paints wet and creamy for better artistic painting. The portable jelly cup size is perfect for outdoor painting. The upgraded carrying case has a pen tray, you can put the brushes in it.
- HIGH-QUALITY PIGMENT: All paints are thick and creamy do not shift or become muddy, can be diluted with plenty of water do not crack or crumble when the paint dries. Beautiful and practical color selected, best chosen for daily exercise.
- MORE COLORS CHOICE: After the upgrade, it adopted a twin jelly cup design. One jelly cup contains 2 colors, which is similar in size to the 18-color gouache box but contains 36 colors, convenient for carrying out and giving people who want to try multiple colors a better experience as well as eliminates the tedious steps of color mixing.
- HIGH-QUALITY PAINT BRUSHES: Highly durable brushes, 2 flat tip brushes, and 1 round tip brush, perfect for gouache painting. From the smallest details to the largest coat applications, every stroke will come to life. Hassle-free painting for home, work, school, and travel.
The Ultimate Gouache Buying Guide: Picking Your Perfect Pots of Color
Gouache (pronounced “gwash”) is a fun, versatile paint. It looks like watercolor but acts a bit like acrylic. It dries matte and opaque, meaning you can paint light colors over dark ones! Choosing the right set can make your painting experience much better.
Key Features to Look For
When you shop for gouache, check these things first:
- **Pigment Load (Concentration):** This is how much actual color is in the paint. High pigment load means bright, strong colors. Look for brands that boast high pigment content.
- **Opacity/Coverage:** Gouache is famous for being opaque (you can’t see through it). Good gouache covers the paper completely in one or two layers.
- **Lightfastness:** This tells you how well the color resists fading when exposed to light over time. If you plan to sell your art or keep it for a long time, choose paints rated “Excellent” or “Very Good” for lightfastness.
- **Binder Type:** Most gouache uses gum arabic as a binder, similar to watercolor. Some professional sets might include honey to keep them moist longer.
Important Materials and Supplies
You need more than just the paint. Gather these essential tools:
- **Paper:** Because gouache covers well and uses a bit more water than regular watercolor, you need sturdy paper. Look for watercolor paper that is at least 140 lb (300 gsm). Bristol board also works well for detailed work.
- **Brushes:** Soft synthetic brushes or natural hair brushes (like sable) work best. You need brushes that hold a good amount of paint but still allow for fine lines.
- **Water Containers:** Have two jars. Use one for rinsing dirty brushes and the other for getting clean water to mix into your paint.
- **Palette:** You can mix colors on a ceramic plate or a plastic palette. If you buy paint in tubes, you might use the lid as a mixing area.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Quality matters a lot with gouache.
What Makes Gouache Better?
High-quality gouache uses pure pigments. These colors mix cleanly and stay true on the paper. Professional-grade paints often have fewer fillers. Fillers are extra ingredients added to bulk up the paint, which can make the color dull.
What Lowers the Quality?
Student-grade paints often use less expensive pigments, sometimes mixing several colors to create a single shade. This means the colors might not mix as vibrantly. Also, if the paint dries out too quickly in the pan, it signals a poor binder formula, making it hard to reactivate later.
User Experience and Use Cases
Gouache offers a unique experience. It feels creamy when you apply it. It dries fast, which is great for quick layering.
Who Uses Gouache?
- **Illustrators:** They love its matte finish, which photographs and scans very well without glare.
- **Designers:** They use it for quick mock-ups and concept art because it’s easy to correct mistakes by painting over them.
- **Hobbyists:** Beginners often find it easier than acrylics because it reactivates with water, allowing you to fix errors easily.
If you like the brightness of acrylic but the blendability of watercolor, gouache is your perfect middle ground.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Gouache Paint
Q: Is gouache the same as watercolor?
A: No. Gouache uses the same binder (gum arabic), but it contains white pigment (like chalk or titanium white). This makes gouache opaque, while watercolor is transparent.
Q: How do I reactivate dried gouache?
A: Simply spritz the dried paint lightly with water using a spray bottle or gently dab it with a damp brush. Wait a minute, and it will soften right up.
Q: Can I use gouache on canvas?
A: You can, but it is not ideal. Gouache works best on paper because it is water-soluble. If you use it on canvas, seal it well with a fixative afterward, or it might smudge.
Q: Does gouache dry darker or lighter?
A: Gouache usually dries slightly darker than when it looks wet on the paper. It dries to a consistent, flat matte finish.
Q: Should I buy tubes or pans?
A: Tubes are better if you paint large areas or use a lot of color. Pans (dry cakes) are perfect for travel, sketching, and smaller illustrations.
Q: What is the main difference between student and professional gouache?
A: Professional gouache has higher pigment concentration and better lightfastness ratings. Student gouache uses more fillers and might fade faster.
Q: Do I need to use a primer or gesso before painting?
A: Not usually. Gouache sticks well to good quality watercolor paper. Gesso is mainly needed if you are painting on wood or canvas.
Q: Can I mix gouache with acrylic paint?
A: You should avoid mixing them wet. Once gouache dries, it is water-soluble. If you mix it with acrylic, the acrylic will lock the gouache in place, making it permanent and less workable.
Q: How do I make my gouache colors brighter?
A: Use a high-quality pigment load. Also, try mixing a tiny bit of white into your color first. This technique, called “toning,” helps the final color appear brighter once dry.
Q: Is gouache permanent after it dries?
A: No, it is not truly permanent like acrylic. You can always re-wet and move gouache with water. You must seal it with a spray fixative or varnish if you want to protect it from moisture and handling.