Most people never get past gouache's first impression.
They mix a color, watch it dry wrong, and quietly decide the medium "just doesn't work for them." That's the moment before the breakthrough, not a verdict on your ability.
What's actually on the other side of that moment is one of the most expressive, immediate, surprising mediums there is. Closer to a living material than a static paint. Once you know how to work with it, gouache moves at the speed of your imagination.
Most people never get past gouache's first impression.
They mix a color, watch it dry wrong, and quietly decide the medium "just doesn't work for them." That's the moment before the breakthrough, not a verdict on your ability.
What's actually on the other side of that moment is one of the most expressive, immediate, surprising mediums there is. Closer to a living material than a static paint. Once you know how to work with it, gouache moves at the speed of your imagination.
Sound familiar?
Muddy mixes. Chunky edges when you wanted crisp ones. Hours of YouTube that never quite add up to a system. If any of that's hits close to home, you're not bad at this you just haven't met gouache on its own terms yet.
If you want to meet gouache on its own terms, I have an introduction to make...
Introducing...
The Gouache Course
Gouache rewards the people who understand it with a kind of creative freedom most mediums can't touch: paint opaque or transparent, soft or razor-sharp, in the same piece, in the same sitting. Most artists never get there because no one's shown them how the medium actually works.
This course is that map. 8 sessions, built around the exact mechanics of how gouache handles light, water, and color. So by the end, you're not following steps anymore. You're improvising.
I built it from the inside out, chasing down every place gouache surprised me until I could predict it instead. No filler, no generic painting theory: just the real mechanics that turn this medium from unpredictable to playable.
Every mark goes exactly where you send it
Once you know what gouache wants, you stop negotiating with your brush. You'll know before the brush touches paper exactly what that stroke is going to do. That's when painting stops being a guessing game and starts being play.
Color that stays alive on the page
You'll learn why gouache turns muddy and once you see it, you can't unsee it. From there, color stops fighting you. You'll mix with the kind of ease that makes people ask "how did you get that color?"
This is what it feels like to actually enjoy the process
Sitting down to paint becomes something you look forward to, not something you brace for. You know how your colors will behave, what they'll dry to, where the edges will land. That certainty is what frees you up to actually create: to chase the painting you're excited about instead of managing damage control.
Paint the image you actually pictured
Not a compromise. Not "good enough for gouache." The actual image in your head with the form, character, and life that made you want to paint it in the first place.
“The lessons were engaging, well structured, humorous and entertaining.”
“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.”
Djamila Knopf — now a full-time gouache artist
The Gouache Course is taught by
Justin Donaldson
Plein Air Magazine's Breakthrough Artist of the Year - Full-time painter & educator
I know what it feels like to have a clear vision in your head and watch it fall apart the moment paint meets paper. For years I was too busy fighting the medium to actually enjoy painting.
I spent a long time figuring out why gouache behaves the way it does: how it dries, how it layers, how to predict it. Once I understood the cause and effect behind the medium, everything became easier. I stopped feeling stuck and started painting with the fluency I’d always wanted.
This course is everything I wish I’d had when I was starting out. I travel full-time with my family, painting landscapes across the US — and gouache is what makes that possible.
Plein Air Magazine’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year
“Discovering the versatility of the medium was a lot of fun and a wee bit mindblowing at times”
“I really enjoyed this course! The videos were very clear and it felt like Justin was very open to answer any questions. 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. 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.”
Jenny Luco — artist
Let’s see what’s inside…
Session 1: Painting with Consistency
Get the paint to come off the brush exactly how you want it to. It can be hard to know how the paint will turn out, but learning to paint with consistency will allow you to create paintings that pop off the page. This is the single skill that will unlock the rest of gouache for you.
Session 2: Controlling Edges
Master the secret behind edge control in gouache. Gouache can often feel like a blunt hammer if you haven’t learned how to use it, but we’re going to dive into how you can create soft edges and subtle transitions with the wet-to-dry technique.
Session 3: Gradients
Gradients are an amazing way to communicate form and movement. There is always more to learn and master when it comes to gradients — this is an open invitation, no matter where you are in your journey, to sit down and learn how to improve.
Session 4: Layering
Layer without reactivating. Layering is a major strength of gouache, and while it can be tricky at first you’ll soon find that you can create layer upon layer of gouache without ever reactivating the paint underneath. This enables a LOT of freedom in how you approach any painting.
Session 5: Working with Water
Gouache is a living, breathing medium — and once we learn to work with the paint instead of fighting against it we’ll have access to a vast array of techniques that allow us to create paintings that feel alive.
Session 6: Handling Value
Your gouache changes as it dries. You can learn to predict this shift — and even use it to your advantage. Keep at it and you’ll be able to get the values you want without even having to think about it.
Session 7: Opaque and Transparent
As a mentor once told me, “If you’re only using gouache for opaque painting you’re only using half of gouache.” Let’s get into the other half — how to use both opaque and transparent painting to make your work even richer.
Session 8: Keeping Gouache Active
Paint with gouache in a way that keeps the paint alive and workable for hours at a time. This will give you time for subtlety and nuance — allowing you to achieve results in gouache you didn’t know were possible.
“One of the best courses I have ever taken.”
“Before this course, gouache was a technique I hated and tried to avoid using, but thanks to Justin’s classes and explanations, I learned how to do things the right way and started to love gouache. Also, classes are easy to understand even if you are not a native English speaker. I’m more than happy with how much I learnt in these weeks. One of the best courses I have ever taken.”
Lunsel — artist
Two things included in every tier that most courses charge extra for
From mixing mud to painting with clarity
Develop this super power as we work through 5 color mixing sessions where we practically, in real time, work through the skill and practice of mixing colour. Mixing colour is the painting superpower — unlock this and everything else becomes easier.
You aren’t alone
We hold weekly live (and recorded) sessions with feedback from me (Justin) and answers to all your gouache questions. I’ll be here with you through the entire process. You’ll also have exclusive access to my students-only community of 500+ others as we work together to find more freedom in gouache.
What’s inside
The Gouache Course
The comprehensive 8-session online course for artists at any level who want to finally make gouache do what they imagine.
- SESSION 1: Consistency. Get the paint off the brush exactly how you want it, so you stop second-guessing every stroke
- SESSION 2: Edge Control. Master hard and soft edges so your paintings have depth and intention, not just accidents
- SESSION 3: Smooth Transitions. Create seamless gradients and blends so skies and forms feel dimensional instead of patchy
- SESSION 4: Layering. Build up colour and tone without lifting the layer beneath, so your paintings gain richness over time
- SESSION 5: Paint Behaviour. Work with gouache’s unique properties instead of against them, so the medium stops feeling unpredictable
- SESSION 6: Value Prediction. Know exactly how light or dark your paint will dry, so what you mix is what you get
- SESSION 7: Versatility. Use the full range of what gouache can do: opaque, transparent and textured — so one medium does everything you need
- SESSION 8: Open Time. Keep paint workable long enough to build subtlety and detail, so you’re never racing the clock
PLUS!
- BONUS #1: 5 Color Mixing Sessions: Build the one skill that makes everything else easier
- BONUS #2: Weekly Live Feedback + Community: Get your work reviewed by Justin and progress alongside 500+ other students
My Guarantee to You
7-day no-questions refund. Take a full week to explore the lessons, bonuses, and community. If it’s not what you were looking for, just let me know and I’ll refund you in full.
6-month results promise. Work through all 8 sessions, submit your artwork for review, and show up to the feedback sessions for 6 months. If you haven’t seen real improvement in your gouache confidence and skill, I’ll refund 100% of your investment. No hoops, no haggling.
I personally review every student’s work. Your improvement isn’t just possible — I’ll make sure it happens.
Here is a video review by Becca Rand.
We no longer do live runs of the course, but instead offer an at-your-own-pace format with weekly feedback sessions for all students.
The Gouache Course is right for you if…
- You've got basic art supplies and you're genuinely curious what this medium can do in your hands
- You're ready to stop guessing and start painting with intention: to actually direct the medium instead of reacting to it
- You want to walk away able to paint the thing you originally pictured: not a compromise, not "good enough for gouache"
The Gouache Course may not be right for you if…
- You're not willing to pick up basic supplies and put in regular practice
- You want quick tips, not a real, transferable skill set
- You're after a shortcut, not the actual ability to paint what you imagine
There's a version of you who already knows how to do this.
Who sits down, mixes exactly the color they pictured, and watches the painting come together the way they imagined it. The only thing between you and that is the eight sessions that get you there.
“I learned more in 8 sessions than I would have in years of figuring things out on my own”
“What a great course this has been! I learned more in 8 sessions than I would have in years of figuring things out on my own. Lots of useful techniques that really expands what you can achieve with gouache. The Discord community really makes it feel like you’re working with a group!”
Joakim — artist
Still on the fence?
Listen, I get it.
Learning a new medium can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve already experienced disappointment with your results.
But here’s the thing…
Even experienced professional artists have found new techniques and approaches through this course. The lessons are engaging, well-structured, humorous, and entertaining — making the medium of gouache easily accessible with step-by-step instruction.
I can’t promise you overnight mastery without any practice.
But I can promise you this: I’ll provide you with a clear, structured path to understanding gouache that eliminates guesswork and frustration. You’ll gain confidence with each session as you see your skills visibly improve. And you’ll be supported by a community of artists on the same journey.
So what’ve you really got to lose?
