Easy Gouache Sketchbook Exercise
Painting with gouache is so fun and relaxing, but it can be intimidating for beginners. So in this post, I’m going to share my favorite approachable gouache painting exercise for beginners. Not only will this exercise help make gouache feel less intimidating, but it will also help you improve your skills so you can begin painting with confidence!
We’ll be painting lines of varying shapes and sizes in our sketchbook to help with brush control and consistency.
I often use this exercise as a warm-up to my gouache paintings. Just like warming up before exercising gets your muscles ready for a workout, warming up before painting gets your mind and body for a creative session!
If you get artist’s block when looking at the blank page, this exercise can help get you started. You don’t have to have to have an idea of what to paint yet. All you need to do is relax and enjoy the meditative process of putting brush to paper. So let’s dive into this meditative brushstroke exercise!
Choose your brushes
Start by grabbing a variety of brushes. Different styles of brushes can create different brushstrokes, so I like to play and explore what the different brushes in my collection have to offer.
One of my favorite brush sets from HIMI includes round brushes, filbert brushes, and flat wash brushes.
Prepare Your Palette
Next, it’s time to add some gouache to your palette! Mix up your favorite color to make this exercise even more fun! Make sure you get your gouache to the consistency of heavy cream so that it’s as easy to work with as possible. (For more info about getting your gouache to the right consistency, check out this post!)
Paint consistent brushstrokes across the page
Now it’s time to start painting. Take a centering breath and get ready to paint. This practice is all about being in the present moment and enjoying the practice of painting without any expectations or perfectionism.
Start by choosing a brushstroke you want to practice and aim to replicate it as consistently as possible across your page. I’ll go over some different brushstrokes to try in the next step if you’re feeling stuck!
Change up your brushstrokes
To get the most out of this exercise, you can try switching up the types of brushstrokes you’re using.
Here are a few examples of brushstrokes to try.
Round Brush - Light to Heavy Pressure
Create short brushstrokes starting with light pressure and ending with heavy pressure like this.
Round Brush - Light Pressure
Round brushes can also be used to create thin, precise lines when you use the tip of the brush. Practice creating thin lines using light pressure on your brush.
Round Brush - Wide Strokes
Try and make the widest stroke you can using heavy pressure with a round brush.
Flat Brush - Wide Stroke
Flat brushes are great for covering a lot of ground with your paint. Practice using a flat brush to create even rectangular strokes.
Flat Brush - Thin Strokes
Use the edge of your flat brush to create thin lines like this.
Don’t forget, this is just scratching the surface of what you can do with your brushes. Try varying the pressure in a squiggly line across the page, practice painting curves or circles – the options are endless! Once you’re in the creative flow, it will be even easier to explore all kinds of brushstrokes and enjoy the journey!
By the end, you’ll have a page full of beautiful brushstrokes. Plus, you’ll likely feel warmed up, creative, and ready to dive into your next painting project!
Want to learn more about working with gouache? Check out my FREE comprehensive gouache guide where I dive into all the fun details you’ll need to know when painting with gouache!
