• 84 gouache ideas

Gouache Painting Ideas

Three gouache ideas, each a flat subject, its colours from the ground up and the step that uses its opacity.

Gouache Painting Ideas

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  1. Melon wedge on a terrazzo counterCream, grey, melon orange, pale green. Paint the counter cream, dry it, then scatter the terrazzo chips on top.
  2. Sofa with five mismatched cushionsSage, navy, mustard, coral, cream. Flat navy sofa first; each cushion gets its own pattern in one other colour.
  3. Fjord with one red cabinPale grey, slate blue, charcoal, white, red. Save the red for the cabin so it is the only warm shape in the poster.

Next step Set up a still life from things at homeGet a landform and a time of day to draw

All 84 gouache ideas

Easy first gouache 24

  • Bananas on a striped tea towel White, red, yellow, brown. Paint the towel white, dry it, then pull each red stripe with a flat brush in one pass.
  • Birch grove with white trunks Pale blue, mustard, rust, white, charcoal. Mustard canopy first, then white trunks over it, then charcoal bark flecks.
  • Blood orange slices on navy Navy, orange, blood red, white. Navy ground first; paint each slice as a flat orange disc, then add red segments.
  • Boiled egg in a striped egg cup White, cobalt blue, cream, yolk yellow. Paint the cup white, dry it, then band it in cobalt with a small flat brush.
  • Bowl of lemons on a bottle green ground Bottle green, lemon yellow, ochre, white. Coat the page green first, then give the opaque yellow two coats.
  • Box of macarons in five colours Pistachio, rose pink, lemon, lilac, chocolate. Each macaron is two flat discs with a paler stripe of filling between.
  • Desert mesa at noon Turquoise, sand, terracotta, rust, cream. Stack the mesas as flat bands with no blending and one clean edge per layer.
  • Dragon fruit halves with dotted flesh Magenta, white, black, lime green. Paint the flesh flat white, dry it, then dot black seeds with a fine brush.
  • Halved papaya with black seeds Cream, deep orange, coral, black. Block the coral flesh flat, let it dry, then dot the seeds over it in black.
  • Kitchen shelf of striped mugs Cream, pine yellow, white, cobalt blue, red. Paint every mug flat white, dry them, then band each one differently.
  • Mountain lake in five flat blues Cream, pale blue, sky blue, denim blue, navy. Mix all five first, then work forwards from the far peak, each one darker.
  • Mustard armchair against striped wallpaper Cream, teal, mustard, brown. Paint the wall cream, rule teal stripes, dry, then paint the chair right over them.
  • Pink townhouse with green shutters Dusty pink, grey, bottle green, white. Paint the shutters straight over the dry pink; opaque green hides it.
  • Pizza slice with basil leaves Ochre, tomato red, cream, basil green. Flat red triangle, then cream blobs of cheese, then the green leaves last.
  • Plant shelf against spotted wallpaper Sage, cream, terracotta, dark green. Dot the dry sage wall in cream first, then paint pots and leaves over the dots.
  • Row of three pastel garages Grey, mint, peach, pale yellow. Paint each door flat, dry it, then rule the panel lines in a darker mix of itself.
  • Sand dunes with sharp shadow sides Cream, apricot, rust, plum, navy. Each dune gets one light face and one shadow face, both flat, meeting at a crisp edge.
  • Seaside ice cream kiosk with a striped roof White, pale pink, mint, red. Paint the roof white, dry it, then add the pink bands with a flat brush.
  • Slice of layer cake with jam stripes Sponge yellow, raspberry pink, cream, chocolate brown. Paint the slice as flat bands, one per layer, no blending.
  • Snowy village under a pink sky Dusty pink, slate grey, navy, white, mustard. Navy houses first, then white roofs on top, then mustard window dots.
  • Spice jars on a wooden rack Pine yellow, rust, mustard, paprika red, white. One flat colour per jar, then a white label rectangle on each once dry.
  • Strawberries in a blue punnet Sky blue, red, leaf green, cream. Flat red berries first; add the cream seed flecks only once the red is dry.
  • Terraced house with a mustard door Brick red, slate grey, white, mustard. Paint the wall flat red, dry it, then rule white window frames over it.
  • Window seat with gingham cushions Pale blue, pine yellow, white, red. Paint each cushion white, dry it, then cross it with red bands both ways.

Fruit still lifes 10

  • Cherries in a white colander White, pale grey, cherry red, maroon. Paint the colander flat white, dry it, then dot the holes in pale grey.
  • Figs cut open on a pink plate Olive green, dusty pink, plum, cream. One plum shape per fig, then the pink inside, then the cream seeds last.
  • Green apples stacked in a pyramid Cream, apple green, dark green, lime. Give every apple the same three flat tones so the stack reads as a set.
  • Melon wedge on a terrazzo counter Cream, grey, melon orange, pale green. Paint the counter cream, dry it, then scatter the terrazzo chips on top.
  • Peaches on a lilac cloth Lilac, peach, coral, leaf green. Touch the coral blush into the peach while both are damp for one soft edge.
  • Pineapple on a mustard background Mustard, ochre, dark brown, olive green. Fill the body ochre, dry it, then cross the diamonds over it in brown.
  • Plums in a brown paper bag Cream, kraft brown, purple, violet. Paint the bag in three flat browns, then sit the purple plums in its mouth.
  • Pomegranate split in two Mustard, maroon, cream, crimson. Lay the maroon skin flat, then print crimson seeds with the tip of a round brush.
  • Quinces beside a copper jug Olive, copper orange, quince yellow, dark brown. Two flat tones per object: one light side, one shadow side.
  • Three persimmons on a blue checked cloth Cobalt blue, white, orange, leaf green. Paint the cloth flat blue, let it dry, then add the white checks on top.

House and shop fronts 13

  • Blue-shuttered farmhouse with a vine Cream, cornflower blue, terracotta, olive green. Dab the vine leaves over the dry wall with the side of a round brush.
  • Bookshop with a bay window Navy, ochre, brick red, cream. Paint the panes ochre, dry them, then add the book spines as tiny flat stripes.
  • Chemist's with a green cross sign White, grey, black, emerald green. Paint the cross last in thick emerald so it sits clean on the white wall.
  • Cinema front with a lit sign Maroon, black, cream, gold. Paint the sign board black first, then the bulbs as cream dots on top.
  • Corner bakery with loaves in the window Cream, terracotta, chocolate brown, ochre. Fill the window dark brown, then stack ochre loaves on top of it.
  • Fishmonger's front with a tiled step Teal, white, black, silver grey, coral. Paint the step white, dry it, then add the black tiles as small squares.
  • Flower shop with buckets on the pavement Sage green, cream, pink, red, yellow. Flat sage front first; the flowers go on last as dabs of thick colour.
  • Greengrocer with crates outside Forest green, cream, kraft brown, orange, red. Flat green front first; each crate is a brown box of coloured dots.
  • Launderette with round machine doors Mint green, white, grey, charcoal. Paint the machines as white squares, then a grey ring and a charcoal disc in each.
  • Lighthouse keeper's cottage Slate blue, white, red, grass green. Keep the wall one flat white shape and let the blue sky cut its outline.
  • Record shop with posters in the window Black, mustard, red, turquoise, cream. Each poster is one flat rectangle with one simple shape on it.
  • Tall canal house with a stepped gable Dark brown, brick red, cream, white. Build it from stacked flat rectangles, then add the white window bars.
  • Village post office with a red post box Stone grey, cream, bottle green, red. Build the wall from flat grey blocks and save the red for the box alone.

Five-colour poster landscapes 12

  • Canyon river bend seen from the rim Cream, peach, orange, brick red, teal. Band the canyon walls in flat stripes and keep the river one unbroken teal shape.
  • Coastal cliffs with a white lighthouse Teal, navy, cream, white, red. Paint the sea flat teal, dry it, then add white wave lines with a fine brush.
  • Fjord with one red cabin Pale grey, slate blue, charcoal, white, red. Save the red for the cabin so it is the only warm shape in the poster.
  • Hot springs valley with white steam Slate blue, ochre, turquoise, charcoal, white. Paint the steam as flat white plumes over the dry hills.
  • Lavender rows to a stone farmhouse Cream, sage green, lavender, violet, terracotta. Pull the rows towards one point on the horizon with a flat brush.
  • Pine ridges fading into mist Cream, pale mint, sage, forest green, dark green. Paint the palest far ridge first and overlap each nearer row darker.
  • Rice terraces in stepped greens Sky blue, pale yellow, lime, emerald, dark green. Each terrace is a flat curved band with a dark line under its lip.
  • Rolling vineyard hills Cream, lime green, olive, ochre, plum. Fill each hill flat, dry it, then stripe it with vine rows that follow its curve.
  • Tulip fields in stripes with a windmill Sky blue, red, yellow, pink, leaf green. Paint the fields as flat stripes that narrow towards the windmill.
  • Volcano island with a palm fringe Teal, cream, charcoal, emerald, coral. Paint the cone flat charcoal, dry it, then fringe its foot with emerald palms.
  • Waterfall between two rock walls Pale blue, charcoal, moss green, ochre, white. Flat rock first, dry it, then drag the white fall down with a dry brush.
  • Wooden jetty on a flat lilac lake Peach, lilac, slate blue, cream, navy. Paint sky and lake as flat bands, dry them, then lay the navy jetty over both.

Food illustrations 12

  • Bento box in compartments Black, white, orange, leaf green, yellow. Rule the black box first, then fill each compartment with one flat food shape.
  • Bottle of olive oil with a lettered label Olive green, gold, cream, black. Paint the label flat cream, let it dry hard, then letter it in black.
  • Bowl of ramen seen from above Cream, ochre, brown, leaf green, pink. Paint the broth flat ochre, dry it, then lay each topping on as its own shape.
  • Cheese board with lettered labels Brown, cream, ochre, orange, sage. Letter the labels in brown with a fine brush once every wedge is dry.
  • Croissant and a pot of jam Cream, ochre, golden brown, red. Paint the croissant as flat ochre segments, then a brown crescent on each for the bake.
  • Fruit tart seen from above Navy, ochre, custard yellow, red, kiwi green. Navy ground first, then ring the fruit round the custard in flat discs.
  • Illustrated recipe for tomato soup Cream, tomato red, leaf green, brown, black. Paint each ingredient as a flat spot drawing, then letter its name below.
  • Jar of pickles with a checked lid Olive green, lime, white, red, cream. Paint the lid white, dry it, then check it in red; cream glints go on last.
  • Stack of pancakes with a butter pat Cream, golden ochre, brown, butter yellow. Stack flat ovals, add a brown edge line under each, butter on top last.
  • Sushi platter in a grid Black, white, salmon pink, leaf green, orange. Paint the black tray first; white rice blocks sit on top once it is dry.
  • Three tacos in a row Corn yellow, brown, lime green, red, pink. Flat yellow half moons for the shells, then pile fillings over the top edge.
  • Tin of sardines with the lid rolled back Red, silver grey, navy, cream. Paint the fish flat grey, dry them, then add navy backs and a cream eye dot.

Patterned interiors 13

  • Bathroom with fish-scale tiles Teal, mint, white, gold. Paint the wall teal, then row on row of mint half circles, each row offset from the last.
  • Bed with a patchwork quilt Rust, mustard, sage, navy, cream. Fill each patch flat, dry it, then give every other patch a tiny cream pattern.
  • Brass bed against trellis wallpaper Pale green, white, gold, dusty pink. Rule the white trellis over the dry green wall, then the gold bed frame over both.
  • Checked kitchen floor with a red kettle White, black, mint, red. Paint the floor white, dry it, then fill every other square black with a flat brush.
  • Dining table with a lemon-print cloth Navy, white, lemon yellow, leaf green. Flat white cloth first, then scatter lemons and leaves over it in a loose repeat.
  • Dresser of blue and white plates Cream, pine yellow, white, cobalt blue. Paint each plate flat white, dry it, then add a cobalt rim and one motif.
  • Greenhouse corner with a brick floor Cream, brick red, terracotta, dark green. Lay the bricks as flat red blocks in a herringbone, leaving cream gaps.
  • Hallway with a tiled floor and coat hooks Terracotta, cream, black, bottle green. Tile the floor in two flat colours; one green coat is the only soft shape.
  • Patterned rug seen from above with a cat Brick red, navy, cream, ochre, black. Work the rug from its borders inwards, then paint the cat over the dry middle.
  • Reading nook with a floral curtain Cream, rose pink, leaf green, navy, ochre. Paint the curtain flat cream, dry it, then repeat one flower across it.
  • Sofa with five mismatched cushions Sage, navy, mustard, coral, cream. Flat navy sofa first; each cushion gets its own pattern in one other colour.
  • Staircase with a patterned runner Pine yellow, maroon, cream, navy. Paint the runner as one maroon band, then repeat the cream motif on every tread.
  • Tiled fireplace with a mantel clock Charcoal, emerald, white, gold. Paint the surround as a grid of emerald squares, each with one white quarter circle.

How it works

Gouache painting ideas work best as flat, opaque shapes, so these 84 are fruit still lifes, house and shop fronts, poster landscapes, food illustrations and patterned interiors. Each lists its colours from the ground up and one step.

Read the full guide

Why flat shapes and patterns suit gouache

Gouache is pigment, water and a binder, usually gum arabic, made to be opaque. That lets a light colour sit on a dark one. Blood orange slices on navy starts with the navy, and Mustard armchair against striped wallpaper paints the chair straight over the stripes. 39 of the 84 steps wait for a layer to dry first.

Five-colour posters and colours that shift as they dry

Gouache was long a working paint for posters and illustration, and the 17 five-colour poster landscapes borrow that look: five colours each and no blending. Pale mixes tend to dry a little darker and dark mixes a little lighter, so a colour is hard to match later. Mix all five before you start, as Mountain lake in five flat blues says.

  • Under More filters, Level holds 24 easy first gouache subjects, such as Halved papaya with black seeds.
  • Dry gouache can be rewetted, so lay each top layer in one pass and never scrub the colour below.
  • Save one colour for one shape: Fjord with one red cabin keeps its red for last.

Questions and answers

What is the difference between gouache and watercolour?

Gouache is made like watercolour but more opaque: its pigment particles are typically larger, there is far more pigment to binder, and a white filler such as chalk may be added. Watercolour lets the paper show; gouache covers it and dries matte.

Do these ideas need acrylic gouache?

No. Every idea works in traditional gouache, which is bound with gum arabic and can be rewetted. Acrylic gouache dries water-resistant, so a dry layer will not lift under the next. That helps on pattern-heavy ideas such as Bed with a patchwork quilt.

Which gouache colours should I buy first?

Cream is in 48 of the 84 palettes, a green in 38, white in 33 and a red in 30. Cream mixes from white and a touch of ochre, so start with a big white, a red, a green, navy, ochre and black.

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