Life looks
better in gouache
the 8-session program for artists who strive to capture the beautiful messiness of life through the medium of gouache
You feel stuck in an endless cycle of frustration.
You want gouache paintings that match your vision.
To step back from your painting and think, “I can’t believe I made this”.
But technical struggles with consistency, blending, and opacity stand in your way."
5 telltale signs you need a structured approach to learning gouache rather than more trial and error
1. You mix your colors only to watch them turn muddy and dull when applied to paper
2. You feel a knot in your stomach when your brush touches the paper, knowing it probably won't look like you imagined
3. You're eager to paint fine details and crisp lines. But your brushstrokes look chunky and uneven
4. You spend hours watching tutorials but still can't figure out why your paintings still don't improve
5. You know deep down that you could create beautiful gouache art. But you can't quite bring yourself to confidently approach a blank page without trepidation
If ANY of that's true for you...
You don't need to extend your paint collection or watch more random YouTube tutorials.
What you need is to focus on the skills and techniques that matter
so that you can control this wildly versatile medium with confidence and
create the vibrant, dimensional artwork you've been dreaming of.
Introducing...
The Gouache Course
The comprehensive 8-session online course for curious artists at any level that want to finally unlock the versatility of gouache and create artwork they're proud to share.
I've taken everything I've learned during my journey from frustrated hobbyist to confident gouache artist... and turned it into this proven system that eliminates guesswork and builds your skills systematically
So you can stop feeling like you're fighting against your paint and start enjoying the creative process while achieving results you love.
Get confident controlling water-to-paint ratios and creating consistent marks
No more guessing how much water to use. Now you can feel confident applying gouache exactly where and how you want it. Because you'll learn the exact techniques for different effects.
Create vibrant paintings without everything turning to mud
I'll show you how. And you'll be amazed how forgiving gouache becomes when you know the right approach.
Paint with joy instead of frustration
Imagine sitting down to paint without that knot of anxiety in your stomach. Instead, you confidently mix your colors, knowing exactly how they'll behave on paper and what value they'll dry to. You finish your session feeling energized rather than defeated.
Fed up with paintings that look nothing like your vision?
Let's turn that disappointing experience into paintings with form, character, and professional-looking results that make you proud to call yourself an artist.
"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 brought to you by
Justin Donaldson
Professional Artist
When I first started I was struggling with having my gouache come out the way I wanted to. I ended up being too frustrated trying to get my paint to do what I want, and not able to focus on what it is I wanted to paint.
I spent years collecting advice, testing my paints, and learning how to handle my paint, so my paint didn’t handle me.
And now I can focus on being creative, no longer feeling stuck but taking my paint with me and documenting my life with the flair and fluency I want.
Plein air magazines 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. 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."
- Jenny Luco, artist
Lets 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 are 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, and now we will have an opportunity to learn about the practice and application of gradients. There is always more to learn and master when it comes to gradients and this is an open invitation, no matter where you are in your journey, to sit down and learn how to improve! I can't wait to dive into this with you!
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 will be able to create layer upon layer of gouache without ever reactivating the paint underneath. This will enable to a LOT of freedom in how you want to 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 and ideas that will allow us to create paintings that feel alive.
Session 6: Handling Value
(lights and darks)
So... your gouache changes as it dries. I know you might not believe me yet, but you can soon 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.
(thin and thick)
Like a mentor of mine once told me, "If you are only using gouache for opaque (thick) painting you are only using half of gouache." so lets get into the other half, and talk about how to use both opaque and transparent painting to make our paintings even richer!
Session 8: Keeping gouache active
Lets paint with gouache in a way that keeps the paint alive and active for hours as a time. This will help you paint in a way that will give you time for subtly and nuance, allowing you to achieve results in gouache that you didn't know are 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 the great Justin's classes and explanations, i learned how to make the things in the right way and started to love gouache. Also,classes are easy to understand even if you are not english native. I'm more than happy of how much i learnt in these weeks. One of the best courses I have ever taken."
Lunsel - artist
PLUS… get INSTANT ACCESS to these confidence boosting bonuses!
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. Ill be here with your through the entire process. You'll also have Exclusive access to my students-only community of 500+ others and myself as we work together to find more freedom in gouache.
In short...
MY GUARANTEE TO YOU
7 Days = Try It Risk-Free
I want you to feel absolutely certain this course is right for you. Take 7 days to explore everything—the lessons, the bonuses, the community. If you don't feel like this is the structured guidance you've been looking for, just let me know and I'll issue a full refund. No questions asked.
6 Months = My Personal Promise
Learning to control gouache isn't about quick tricks. It's about building real skill through systematic practice and personal guidance. Here's my guarantee:
If you work through all 8 sessions, submit your artwork for my personal review, and actively participate in our group feedback sessions for 6 months—and you still haven't seen significant improvement in your gouache confidence and skill—I'll refund 100% of your investment.
When you combine proper structure with personal feedback and consistent effort, transformation isn't just possible—it's inevitable. And as someone who personally reviews every student's work, I'll make sure you get there.
THE GOUACHE COURSE is RIGHT for you if...
- You have basic art supplies and the willingness to practice
- You're ready to master the core skills of gouache painting
- You are prepared to end the course ready to create what you have always wanted to create
THE GOUACHE COURSE may NOT be right for you if...
- You aren't going to find the basic art supplies and don't have the willingness to practice
- You aren't ready to work on the core skills of gouache painting
- You're not don't want to find the confidence + skills you need to put your vision onto the page
Don't you think it's time you enjoyed the versatility of gouache instead of feeling frustrated every time you try to paint?
"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. I'll be here to support you when you run into road blocks.
So what've you really got to lose?
