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Gouache Course 2.0

Its time to get serious about gouache

Starting Feb 23

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The Gouache Course 2.0 is here to continue on from the work we did in the Classic Gouache Course. 

Finally, a comprehensive gouache course that solves the medium's biggest challenges while unlocking its full potential. From predicting value shifts to creating stunning large-scale works, this course delivers expert techniques through hands-on practice.

What You'll Master:

  • Control value shifts and color changes with higher precision
  • Master both transparent and opaque techniques
  • Create dynamic effects with exhilarating brushwork and water control
  • Paint confidently at any scale
  • Execute plein air paintings with ease

Perfect for artists who:

  • Struggle with gouache's unpredictable drying behavior
  • Want to combine transparent and opaque techniques
  • Aim to paint outdoors with confidence
  • Seek advanced techniques not found elsewhere

Eight carefully structured sessions build your skills progressively, from fundamental control to advanced effects. Each lesson includes and practical exercises and paintings that reinforce core concepts.

Don't let gouache's challenges hold you back. Join now to master this versatile medium and create the artwork you've always envisioned.

Session 1: Predicting the value shift

Lets start the source of the biggest pain point of gouache; the value shift. I have tested innumerable pigments and paints to find out exactly how much gouache gets darker/ lighter as it dries so that I can teach you exactly how to predict the value shift. We are going to work through a number of small master studies with this in mind, working both in black and white and then with colour. 

Session 2: Advanced Colour 

As gouache dries, not only does it get lighter/darker but it also loses saturation, taking away the intensity of colour. But if we can learn to predict how much gouache desaturates as it dries we can compensate and get it precisely where we want it! We also work through a number of strategies for dealing with colour that I have never seen communicated before.

Session 3: Advanced Transparency

To master gouache is to learn everything about painting both opaquely and transparently. This week we look to the masters of watercolour and learn some great strategy for dealing with our paints transparently. 

Session 4: Painting thick! 

This week we dive into the world of painting with thick paint. Multiple colours in one brushstroke, layering over pre-established colours, dry brushing... oh my. 

Session 5: Painting at scale

There are some things we can only get comfortable with when painting at scale. Whether you want to paint large or small, getting comfortable painting at scale will help you! We also introduce a concept that will keep coming up through out the remainder of the course. Lets do something BIG with our paints!  

Session 6: Plein air painting

There are a LOT of things to learn about plein air painting, and even more that plein air painting as a practice can teach you. Learn about why gouache and plein air is a match made in heaven, and lets go paint! 

Session 7: Painting effects 

This session we are going to talk about painting effects and work through a strategy for keeping our colours consistent over longer periods of time - something that comes naturally for oil painting, but not so easily with gouache. We'll use this to more easily create subtle effects like clouds, mist, dust + waterfalls. Lets paint a waterfall and see what we can do! 

Session 8: Pulling it all together

In this lesson we create a classic painting using everything we have discussed so far, pulling together all the different strategies so that we can solidify our understanding and our practices. I am here to help you create your own great art! I cant wait to see what you do with it all. 

What Materials will I need?

Expand the sections below to find my recommended materials. There are a few paints and materials needed for this course. 

 

Gouache Course 2.0

$350.00 USD
Gouache Course 2.0 Payment Plan

3 monthly payments of $125.00 USD
Gouache Course 2.0 - Feedback

$475.00 USD
Gouache Course 2.0 - Feedback payment plan

3 monthly payments of $160.00 USD

Are you looking for other ways to learn from me?

In addition to these courses, I also have a monthly study group and tutorials!

Click Here to Continue Learning

Djamila Knopf

As a digital artist, I've always been extremely intimidated but also intrigued by traditional painting. Turns out all my worries were unfounded because the course made the medium of gouache easily accessible, and introduced all the required techniques step by step. The lessons were engaging, well structured, humorous and entertaining. Justin is a great teacher, and his enthusiasm for painting is infectious! He has managed to create such a positive learning environment for his students, and I loved being part of the community on Discord. Even as someone who has been working as a professional artist for years, I learned many new things, and I can only recommend the course.

Jenny Luco

I really enjoyed this course! The videos were very clear and it felt like Justin was very open to answer any questions, even from those just auditing (like me). Discovering the versatility of the medium was a lot of fun and a wee bit mindblowing at times, haha.

On a personal note: I've mostly been painting digitally for the last few years. Sure I did the occasional watercolour, but while I enjoyed the feel of real paint it also felt like a bit of a messy struggle. After taking this course, I think I may have found a new favourite traditional medium. Gouache can get messy too, but it is also pretty forgiving! Doing the assignments really did give me more confidence as a traditional painter.

All in all: I am very happy I took this class and I am also enthusiastic about the community of students we had here on Discord. Seeing others tackle the same issues and learning the same things really added something for me as well

Tommy

I’d like to take the time to thank Justin properly for the quality of this course! I am a person with generalised anxiety and I really struggle to find enjoyment throughout my journey to become a professional artist, as I obsess very easily on getting everything perfect on the first try or setting standards too high for myself, which results in a lot of frustration. So I cannot stress enough how beneficial it was to have Justin constantly remind me THE important things:

“take your time”, “it’s okay to make mistakes”, “learning happens best at your own pace”, “don’t expect to get it right the first time”, “great technique develops on solid foundations of basic skills, so don’t be afraid/ashamed to spend as much time as you need on mastering those before moving on to the next step” and the very poetic but oh so true “productive complexity can only occur within the bounds of profound simplicity”.

So thank you Justin for creating a welcoming and kind space where I could reconnect with the pleasure of growing as an artist. What I learnt here certainly helped me change the way I view gouache and most importantly the way I see art in general. Keep up the good work and maybe see you in another one of your courses!

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