Gouache Paint An Artwork!
Use gouache paints to create a small landscape or still life painting, practice color mixing, layering, brush techniques, and safe cleanup.
About this activity
Use gouache paints to create a small landscape or still life painting, practice color mixing, layering, brush techniques, and safe cleanup.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Place your paper on the table and tape the edges down if you want the paper to stay flat.
- 2
Step 2
Put your gouache paints brush palette cup of water paper towels pencil and eraser within easy reach.
- 3
Step 3
Lightly sketch a simple landscape or still life on your paper with the pencil.
- 4
Step 4
Open your paints and make small swatches of each color on your palette to see how they look.
- 5
Step 5
Mix two primary colors on your palette to create a new color and test it on scrap paper.
- 6
Step 6
Use a large brush to paint a background wash with thinned gouache.
- 7
Step 7
Let the background dry before you add more paint.
- 8
Step 8
Use a medium brush to paint midground shapes with thicker paint to build depth.
- 9
Step 9
Use a small brush to add details highlights and textures with short strokes and dots.
- 10
Step 10
Rinse your brushes in the cup of water until the paint comes out.
- 11
Step 11
Blot your brushes on a paper towel and reshape the bristles before they dry.
- 12
Step 12
Carefully peel off the tape if you used it and sign your painting with your initials and the date.
- 13
Step 13
Share your finished gouache painting on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you paint a small landscape or still life with gouache?
Set up a protected workspace and tape heavy watercolor paper to a board. Lightly sketch your composition, then choose a small palette of colors. Start with diluted gouache for a light base wash, let it dry, then build opaque layers for midtones and highlights. Practice different brush strokes for texture and edges. Let each layer dry before glazing or adding details, sign your piece, and allow a final dry before framing or photographing.
What materials do I need to paint with gouache?
You’ll need gouache paints (tubes or pans), heavy watercolor or mixed-media paper (200–300 gsm), a few round and flat brushes (sizes 2–8), a palette or mixing tray, two water jars (clean and rinse), paper towels or cloth, pencil and eraser, masking tape and a board, and an apron or smock. Optional items: palette knife, reference photo, and non-toxic label checks for kid-friendly supplies.
What ages is gouache painting suitable for?
Gouache is great for kids around 6 and up with supervision; ages 8–12 are ready for more precise color mixing and layering. Teens and adults will enjoy its opaque, forgiving qualities. Younger children (4–5) can do simplified gouache activities using large brushes and thicker paper, but require close adult help to avoid spills, ingestion, and to manage drying times.
What are the safety and cleanup tips for gouache painting?
Most gouache is water-based and non-toxic, but always check labels. Protect the table with a drop cloth, wear an apron, and supervise young children to prevent ingestion. Rinse brushes promptly in a jar, squeeze excess paint on a towel, and wash with soap and warm water. Keep paint tubes closed to avoid spills, dispose of dirty water responsibly, and store paints out of reach when finished.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use if I can't find gouache, a palette, or tape for the activity?
If you don't have gouache, use heavy-body acrylics thinned with a little water, substitute a paper plate or ceramic dish for a palette, and weigh down the paper with books instead of taping the edges before you sketch and paint.
My background wash looks streaky or the paint lifts when I add midground shapes—what should I do?
Thin the gouache more and apply the background wash with a large brush in even strokes, then let the background dry completely before using a medium brush for midground shapes to prevent lifting and streaks.
How can I adapt this gouache project for younger or older children?
For younger kids, pre-sketch a simple landscape and have them use only the large brush for a thinned background wash, while older children can create detailed pencil sketches, experiment mixing two primary colors on the palette, and add fine textures with the small brush.
How can we extend or personalize the finished painting beyond the basic steps?
Add texture by pressing leaves or tissue into still-wet midground paint, use the small brush to add metallic or white highlights for detail, carefully peel off the tape for crisp borders, sign with your initials and date, and photograph the piece to share on DIY.org.