Watercolour
For transparent washes, gradual colour, light layers and work where the white of the paper remains visible.
Transparent · water-reactive · paper
← All guides
PAINTING GUIDE
Watercolour, gouache or acrylic?
These three paints do not behave in the same way. Watercolour relies on transparency and water, gouache gives a more opaque matte surface, and acrylic dries into a more permanent film.
Start with the result you want: transparent wash, flat opaque colour, fast layers, texture or easy reworking. The medium comes after that choice.
01 · CHOOSE THE PAINT
Start with transparency, opacity and drying behaviour.
The name of the paint matters less than what you need it to do on the surface.
Gouache
For matte colour, flat shapes, opaque corrections and illustration. It can usually be reactivated with water.
Opaque · matte · reworkableAcrylic
For fast layers, stronger surfaces, texture and work on prepared paper, board or canvas. Once dry, it does not reactivate like gouache.
Fast drying · layers · texture
A simple way to decide
Choose watercolour if light passes through the colour, gouache if you want to cover what is underneath, and acrylic if you want successive layers that stay in place once dry.
02 · SUPPORTS
The support changes absorption, edges and drying.
The same paint can behave very differently on watercolour paper, mixed-media paper or a prepared rigid surface.
Watercolour paper
Made for repeated contact with water. Useful for washes, gradients and transparent layers.
Mixed-media paper
Useful when combining drawing, gouache, lighter acrylic applications and ink without using extremely wet washes.
Canvas or prepared panel
Better suited to acrylic, texture and repeated layers. Check that the surface has been prepared when necessary.
Sketchbook
Useful for colour tests, composition studies and small paintings. Check the paper before using large quantities of water.
03 · BRUSHES
Choose the brush by the mark it needs to make.
One brush does not need to do everything. Three shapes already cover a large range of painting tasks.
Round brush
For lines, small shapes, controlled washes and details. A fine point increases versatility.
Flat brush
For straight edges, flat areas, blocks of colour and broader acrylic or gouache marks.
Wash brush
For larger wet areas and broad transitions. It needs enough capacity to cover the area before an edge dries.
A brush that is too small forces you to reload and restart constantly. For a broad area, use the largest brush you can still control.
04 · WORKING METHOD
Prepare the colour before the surface starts deciding for you.
Many painting problems come from stopping in the middle of a wash, changing the mixture during a flat area or touching a layer before it is ready.
Prepare enough mixture
Mix the amount you need before covering a larger area.
Test the colour
Use a scrap of the same support to check opacity, dilution and drying.
Work with the drying time
For soft blending, work while the surface is compatible in moisture. For clean layers, let the previous passage dry.
Stop before damaging the surface
Repeated brushing can lift pigment, reactivate gouache or disturb paper fibres.
05 · STARTER SETUP
A small setup is enough to understand a medium.
Start with a few complementary tools rather than several versions of the same thing.
Watercolour
Paint, watercolour paper, one round brush, one broader brush, palette, two water containers and an absorbent cloth.
Gouache
Gouache, resistant paper, round brush, flat brush, palette, water and cloth.
Acrylic
Acrylic paint, prepared support, flat and round brushes, palette, water and surface protection.
06 · FAQ
FAQ
Which paint is easiest for a beginner?
There is no universal answer. Watercolour teaches water control, gouache offers opacity and reworking, while acrylic makes it easy to build successive layers.
Do I need many brushes?
No. One useful round brush and one broader or flat brush already cover many tasks.
Why does paper buckle?
Water expands the fibres unevenly. More suitable paper, a smaller amount of water and securing the sheet can reduce deformation.
Can gouache be painted over watercolour?
Yes, but the underlying layer may reactivate. Test the pressure and amount of water first.
Why does acrylic dry so quickly on the palette?
Water evaporates from the exposed paint. Work with smaller quantities and keep the palette out of direct heat.
Choose the material according to the technique
Browse drawing and painting materials, or continue with the guide dedicated to watercolour blooms and muddy colours.