Discovering gouache
Let’s get this out of the way first—it’s pronounced “gwash” (like “squash” without the “s”). Or maybe “goo-ash.” Gwatch? I go with the first one. There’s a lot of options. “Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago.” - thanks, Ron Burgundy.
But however you say it, gouache has become my favourite medium, and I have James Gurney to thank for that.
Like many artists, I started out with watercolours, enjoying their transparency and unpredictability - but often struggling with those same qualities, and producing paintings I was not proud of. But then one day, I stumbled across James Gurney’s YouTube channel—if you don’t know him, he’s the guy who painted Dinotopia and generally seems to live the dream, painting fantastic landscapes and everyday rural scenes from the back of a van. His gouache videos blew my mind. Here was a paint that could do all the things I loved about watercolour, but with the added bonus of opacity, layering, and the ability to paint light over dark. Suddenly, I had a medium that let me work more illustratively without losing that painterly touch.
What Is Gouache, Anyway?
Gouache is essentially watercolour with extra attitude. It’s made from the same pigments and binder as watercolour, but with added chalk or white pigment, making it more opaque. This means you can paint light over dark (unlike traditional watercolour, where you have to carefully preserve your highlights). It dries matte, blends beautifully, and works well on toned paper—no wonder illustrators have used it for decades in posters, book covers, and animation backgrounds.
And that brings me to another reason I fell for gouache: it’s the secret behind many of those stunning vintage railway posters. You know the ones—rolling hills, golden fields, dramatic coastlines, all in bold colours and strong shapes. Images that make Britain look like the most picturesque place on Earth. Gouache gave those artists the flexibility to create crisp, vibrant images with a timeless feel. When I realised this, everything clicked—this was the look I’d always loved.
Why I Love Painting with Gouache
Gouache suits the way I like to paint. I’ve seen some people building gouache up in thin washes like watercolour, but I like to use it like a super-quick-drying oil paint, putting on opaque colour blocks from the start, working from dark to light. It’s also incredibly forgiving—if something doesn’t work, I can layer over it, tweak it, or even rewet areas to blend them out. And unlike acrylic or oil, it doesn’t require a complicated setup or toxic solvents. Just paint, water, and a brush—ideal for working at home or packing up for plein air painting on a walk.
Want to Try Gouache?
If you’ve never used it before, I highly recommend giving gouache a go. It’s a fantastic bridge between watercolour and acrylic, offering both delicate washes and bold, graphic shapes. And if you’re looking for inspiration, James Gurney’s videos are a great place to start—just be warned, you may find yourself watching one video and emerging three hours later with a full shopping cart of paint.
