Gouache paint offers artists a unique combination of opacity and reworkability, sitting in a versatile space between watercolor and acrylic. Known for its rich, matte finish, it can be used thinly for watercolor-like effects or applied thickly for solid, vibrant coverage. Whether you are a beginner exploring opaque painting techniques or a professional illustrator seeking flawless color layers, the right set is crucial for achieving your desired results.
Selecting the best gouache involves considering pigment quality, consistency, and your specific project needs. From student-grade sets perfect for practice to professional tubes favored by industry experts, the variety can be overwhelming. This roundup simplifies your search by highlighting ten standout options, each offering distinct advantages for different artistic journeys and skill levels.
Our Top Gouache Paint Recommendations
- HIMI Gouache Paint Set, 36 Colors
- HIMI Gouache Paint Tube Set -18 Colors
- Winsor & Newton Designers’ Gouache Set
- Holbein Artist Gouache Set G703
- M. Graham 5 Color Gouache Paint Set
- Royal & Langnickel Gouache Color Paint
- Turner Acrylic Gouache 24 Colors Set
- DA VINCI PAINTS Professional Artist Gouache
- Reeves Paint Set of 18 Gouache Tubes
- Schmincke HORADAM AQUARELL Gouache Set
HIMI Gouache Paint Set, 36 Colors
This HIMI set is a fantastic choice for artists and students who value portability and a wide color selection. The unique twin jelly cup design features 36 vibrant colors, each with a generous 12ml of paint. The excellent sealing lid keeps the gouache wet and creamy, making it ready to use whenever inspiration strikes.
The thick, creamy consistency retains brush marks for beautiful texture and can be diluted with water without becoming muddy. The set includes a carrying case with a dedicated pen tray for brushes and a palette, creating a complete, all-in-one painting kit perfect for outdoor sketching and daily practice.
HIMI Gouache Paint Tube Set -18 Colors
For those who prefer the convenience of tubes, this HIMI set offers 18 rich and vibrant gouache colors. The upgraded tube design features an excellent sealing lid that maintains the paint’s creamy texture, ensuring a smooth painting experience every time you use it. It’s an ideal set for beginners, hobby painters, and artists looking for reliable performance.
The gouache provides opaque coverage and is formulated to stay vibrant without shifting or becoming muddy when mixed. Made with high-quality, premium raw materials, these paints deliver consistent results and are a practical choice for daily painting projects and artistic exercises.
Winsor & Newton Designers’ Gouache Set
Winsor & Newton Designers’ Gouache is a benchmark for quality, renowned for its brilliant color and superior matte finish. This introductory set includes six primary colors in 14ml tubes, providing a solid foundation for mixing a wide spectrum of hues. It is a trusted choice for designers and illustrators who require precision and reliability.
The paints are celebrated for their high opacity and smooth application, allowing for flawless, flat areas of color that are essential for graphic and design work. This set serves as a perfect entry point into the world of professional-grade gouache.
Holbein Artist Gouache Set
Holbein Artist Gouache is formulated for the serious artist who demands the best in color fidelity and performance. This set of 18 five-milliliter tubes features carefully selected pigments that express vivid color with exceptional clarity on the painting surface. The high hiding power allows you to layer colors effectively.
A key benefit of this professional-grade gouache is its excellent light resistance, meaning finished artworks will have minimal fading over time. This makes it a sound investment for creating pieces intended for display and longevity.
M. Graham 5 Color Gouache Paint Set
M. Graham gouache stands out for its unique use of pure blackberry honey as a binder, which contributes to its exceptionally smooth and workable consistency. This primary set of five half-ounce tubes is free from chalk and other opacifying adulterants, relying instead on high pigment load for its covering power.
The result is a reflective matte finish that is versatile for use alone or in combination with other water-based media like watercolor. Artists appreciate its extended working time and the rich, luminous quality it brings to their work.
Royal & Langnickel Gouache Color Paint
This Royal & Langnickel set offers excellent value with 24 generous 21ml tubes of gouache paint. It provides a comprehensive color palette that includes essential hues like burnt sienna, cerulean blue, and lemon yellow, making it suitable for a wide range of subjects and styles.
The paints are known for their great opacity and reflective characteristics, allowing for bold and vibrant artwork. Conforming to ASTM D-4236 safety standards, this set is a reliable and accessible option for students, classrooms, and artists on a budget.
Turner Acrylic Gouache 24 Colors Set
Turner Acrylic Gouache combines the matte, flat finish of traditional gouache with the permanent, water-resistant quality of acrylic. Once dry, this paint will not reactivate with water, allowing for worry-free overpainting and layering. This 24-color set offers a versatile range for various applications.
Its durable finish makes it a popular choice for commercial illustration, design work, and fine art where a final piece needs to be protected from moisture. It provides the best of both worlds for artists seeking a permanent opaque medium.
DA VINCI PAINTS Professional Artist Gouache
Da Vinci Paints offers professional artist gouache known for its exceptional quality and single-pigment formulations. This tube of white gouache is a staple for any artist’s palette, essential for mixing tints and creating highlights. The paint has a creamy consistency that ensures smooth flow and increased opaque coverage.
It boasts a Lightfastness I rating, indicating excellent fade-resistance for archival artwork. Made with a high concentration of Pigment White 6, this is a reliable and high-performing white that professional artists trust.
Reeves Paint Set of 18 Gouache Tubes
Reeves provides a dependable and affordable gouache set ideal for students and those new to the medium. The set includes 18 ten-milliliter tubes of strong, bold, and mixable colors that produce a vibrant, opaque matte finish. It’s a great way to experiment with gouache techniques without a significant investment.
The high pigmentation provides excellent coverage, allowing for solid color blocks and detailed work. This set is a practical and accessible introduction to the world of opaque water-based painting.
Schmincke HORADAM AQUARELL Gouache Set
Schmincke HORADAM AQUARELL Gouache represents the pinnacle of quality, often considered a luxury artist-grade product. These paints are renowned for their exceptionally fine grind, resulting in a silky-smooth texture and brilliant color saturation. They offer outstanding covering power and a perfectly matte finish.
Formulated with the highest concentration of premium pigments, Schmincke gouache provides excellent lightfastness and mixability. While available in various set sizes, any selection from this line is an investment for serious artists and professionals who require the absolute best performance from their materials.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Gouache Paints for Artists
As an artist, I know that picking the right gouache can feel overwhelming with so many options. The first thing I look at is the quality grade. Gouache generally comes in two categories: artist (or professional) grade and student grade. Artist-grade paints have a higher concentration of finely ground, high-quality pigments. This means the colors are more vibrant, mix better, and have superior covering power. Student-grade paints use more fillers and less expensive pigments, making them more affordable and a great choice for practice, beginners, or large-scale work where cost is a factor.
Another critical factor is opacity. One of the main reasons I use gouache is for its solid, matte finish. A good gouache should provide strong, opaque coverage, allowing you to paint light colors over dark ones without the underneath layers showing through. If you’re doing illustrations, graphic design work, or anything requiring crisp, flat shapes, high opacity is non-negotiable. Some colors are naturally more transparent, but the best gouache paints for artists will list opacity on the tube.
I also pay close attention to the binder. Gouache is essentially a watercolor paint with a higher pigment load and added white chalk or a white pigment to make it opaque. The ratio of pigment to binder affects the paint’s consistency and reactivation. Some brands have a creamier consistency straight from the tube, while others are stiffer. I prefer a paint that feels smooth and buttery, as it’s easier to work with and doesn’t clump. Furthermore, check how the paint reacts when you add water. It should thin down smoothly to a watercolor-like consistency, and a good quality gouache can be reactivated with water even after it dries on your palette, which helps reduce waste.
Finally, think about your specific needs. Are you working in a sketchbook or on canvas? Some gouache lines are specifically formulated for use on a wider variety of surfaces. Do you need a set with a good color selection, or are you better off buying individual tubes to build your own custom palette? Considering your budget, the type of art you make, and your experience level will guide you to the perfect set. Don’t be afraid to try a few student-grade tubes first to get a feel for the medium before investing in a full professional set.
FAQ
What is the main difference between gouache and watercolor?
While both are water-soluble, their key difference is opacity. Watercolor is typically transparent, allowing the white of the paper to show through and create luminous effects. Gouache, on the other hand, is opaque and matte. You can paint in layers from dark to light or light to dark because the new layer will cover what’s underneath. This makes gouache fantastic for solid shapes, illustrations, and graphic-style artwork.
Can I use my watercolor brushes with gouache?
Yes, absolutely! I use the same synthetic and natural hair brushes for both gouache and watercolor. The most important thing is to clean them thoroughly after your painting session, as dried gouache can be difficult to remove from bristles. Good quality brushes that hold a point are ideal for detailed work, while flatter brushes are great for filling in larger areas.
Why does my gouache look different after it dries?
This is a very common experience. Gouache often dries to a slightly different value, usually a bit lighter. This is due to the matting agents in the paint and how light reflects off the dry, matte surface versus the wet, slightly shiny surface. It’s a good practice to do swatches of your colors to learn how they look when dry. This will help you anticipate the final result and make better color choices as you work.
What kind of paper should I use for gouache?
You can use watercolor paper for gouache, and it’s a great option. I prefer a cold-pressed paper with a bit of texture. The thickness (weight) of the paper is important because gouache uses a lot of water. A paper that is at least 140 lb (300 gsm) will prevent buckling and warping. You can also use illustration board or heavy mixed-media paper. Finding the right surface is part of personalizing your process with the best gouache paints for artists.
How do I prevent my gouache paintings from cracking?
Cracking usually happens if you apply the paint too thickly, almost like impasto with oils or acrylics. Gouache is best applied in thin, even layers. If you need to build up depth, let each layer dry completely before adding the next. Also, avoid using it on flexible surfaces without proper preparation, as bending the support can cause the paint film to crack.