Interestingly, despite its popularity, not a lot of people know how to properly pronounce gouache. To make it easier to pronounce, simply say “gw-ash”. There’s no need to enunciate the -ou sound and the -ch is pronounced like an -sh.
Have you ever wondered why a lot of people are so obsessed with this paint? What is so great about this type of paint that a lot of novice and professional painters swear by it? Why is it so highly recommended by different kinds of artists? It’s because gouache paint is versatile and it’s relatively easy to work with.
sponsored message
It’s similar to both watercolor and acrylic paint. If you want it to be more transparent like watercolor, you need to add a considerable amount of water to it. But if you want it more vibrant and opaque like acrylic paint, you need to add less water to it.
What makes it awesome for beginners is that gouache can be pretty forgiving when you make mistakes. You can reactivate the gouache paint by simply adding water to it. You can also paint over it by letting it dry first and then adding a second layer.
But this is a double-edged sword. One on end, it can help you fix your mistakes but on the other, it can make working with gouache a bit tricky. You can accidentally alter your previous layer when you add too much water to your second layer. This is why it’s recommended that you work with thicker consistency once you paint over a previous layer.
Overall, gouache is an amazing painting to start your art journey with. So where can you get some of these awesome paint? We’ll be discussing 9+ best gouache paints in 2022 and where you can purchase them.
Let’s start!
sponsored message
10+ Best Gouache Paint in 2022
There are a lot of gouache paints on the market. Despite gouache being a generally good kind of paint, the quality of the paint is still very important. Here are some of the best gouache paints to help you get started on your journey.
- Turner Design Gouache — Best gouache paint overall (Editor’s Choice)
- Royal & Langnickel GOU24 — Best budget-friendly gouache paint
- Reeves Gouache Color Tube Set — Best value gouache paint
- ARTEZA Gouache Paint — Best metallic gouache paint set
- Schmincke Horadam Gouache — Best paint for professionals
- M. Graham Artists’ Gouache — Best primary color gouache paint set
- Holbein Artists’ Gouache — Widest color range gouache paint set
- Winsor & Newton Gouache — Best gouache paint with high levels of pigmentation
- Caran D’Ache Gouache Studio Box Set — Best pan set gouache paint
- Royal Talens Art Creation Gouache — Best for students and beginners
- Miya Gouache Paint Set — Best jelly gouache paint
Also see our feature on the best acrylic paints.
What is the best gouache paint?
Turner Design Gouache is the best overall gouache paint as includes various top-tire colors that are widely used by all the industries. If you want to know more about other paints, have a look at the comparison table below.
Besides the best gouache paints, for those looking up to set up your art space looking into the best art easels and art desks may be helpful.
If you are interested in digital art, you can also have a look at our Best Ink Brushes for Procreate, Best Blending Brushes for Procreate and Best Oil Brushes for Procreate.
11 Best Gouache Paints in 2022
1. Turner Design Gouache (Editor’s Choice)
sponsored message
Best gouache paint overall
Package: Tube | Paint Type: Watercolor, Gouache | Color: 12 Colors
The Turner Design Gouache comes from a Japanese paint company. This specific brand has been a classic favorite of a lot of textile designers for over 50 years. It’s simply one of the top-tier colors in the world.
The company has spent years perfecting the colors of its products. In its pursuit of perfection, it’s still continuously researching and updating the quality of its products. The company only uses pure ingredients like natural resin (gum arabic) and high-quality pigments for its colors.
The Turner Design Gouache allows users to layer their colors. Because of its non-bleeding feature, users can easily paint over colors once they dry up. This makes it easier to paint light colors over dark ones with striking opacity.
One problem with gouache is that it tends to leave brush strokes. If you brush your artwork too much, since gouache is water-soluble, it can reactivate the paint in your previous layer. With Turner Design Gouache, you can easily achieve a velvety finish without brush marks using the dry brush technique.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕Extremely pigmented | ➖It is expensive |
| ➕Easy to mix |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Tuner Design Gouache - Considered as on eof the world's premier opaque watercolors
- These brilliant and opaque watercolors have a unique non-bleeding feature that dries to a beautiful, velvety matte finish. This allows you to paint light colors (including white) over dark colors when...
- Colors employ the Munsell System and are brilliant beyond comparison using pure gum arabic binder.
- Perfect for achieving smoother and thinner layers with exquisite colors that are unique. Great for hands on illustration and teaching color theory
- Set of 12 Assorted Colors in 25 ml Tubes
2. Royal & Langnickel GOU24
Best budget-friendly gouache paint
Package: Tube | Paint Type: Acrylic, Gouache | Color: 24 Colors
The Royal & Langnickel GOU24 comes in 24 different colors in tubes. These colors come in very beautiful and vibrant shades. Some of them include colors like Cerulean Blue, Crimson Red, Lemon Yellow, etc.
The paint has medium viscosity and because of this, it’s relatively easy to work with. Since it resembles acrylic paint, a lot of users can find it familiar to work with. Once it dries, it looks very matte and solid.
sponsored message
It’s also important to note that the paint conforms to ASTM D-4236. This is the standard practice of labeling art materials for chronic health hazards. This means that the potentially hazardous components of the product have been clearly labeled on the packaging.
This gouache painting is of very high quality. The colors look stunning and when it dries up, it looks very professional. This paint is considered budget-friendly because of the quality and wide selection of colors. It’s definitely worth trying out if you’re a beginner with gouache paint.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕Wide range of colors | ➖It may be hard to get the last bit of paint out of the tube |
| ➕Conforms to ASTM D-4236 |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Model GOU24 - Pack of 24 Royal Artist gouache colors; 12ml tubes
- Medium viscosity, excellent coverage and great mixing characteristics; Conforms to ASTM D-4236
- Colors in this set include: burnt sienna, cerulean blue, crimson red lake, green pale, lamp black, lemon yellow, mauve, Prussian blue
- Titanium White, Vermilion, Viridian, Yellow Ochre, Medium Yellow, White, Ultramarine Blue, Rose, Burnt Umber
- Scarlet, cobalt blue orange red, deep green orange yellow, medium green
3. Reeves Gouache Paint – Color Tube Set
Best value gouache paint
Package: Tube | Paint Type: Watercolor, Gouache | Color: 12 colors
The Reeves Gouache Paint – Color Tube Set is a great set to start with if you’re new to gouache. The paint comes in 10ml tubes so it’s perfect when you’re just experimenting with gouache or you’re trying it out for the first time. You can choose a set that has 12 colors but they also have a set of 18 colors and 24 colors.
It’s important to note that this set of paints is of student grade. It’s affordable and it’s pigmented so it’s a great starter set.
The colors that come with the set are very vibrant. Some of the colors are Lemon Yellow, Brilliant Red, Ultramarine, Emerald Green, etc. These beautiful colors have a vibrant and opaque matte finish once they dry off.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕Vibrant and beautiful colors | ➖Student grade quality |
| ➕Affordable | |
| ➕Opaque matte finish |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Strong, bold and mixable color
- Creates a vibrant, opaque matt finish
- Highly pigmented provides excellent coverage
- Can be used on paper and watercolor boards
- Easily cleaned with water - no solvents required
4. ARTEZA Gouache Paint
Best metallic gouache paint set
Package: Tube | Paint Type: Gouache | Color: 60 colors
The ARTEZA Gouache Paint is a beautiful set of gouache paints that has a wide selection of colors. It has 60 vibrant colors with 12 of them being metallic colors. These colors are stored in 12 ml tubes so it’s perfect for beginners who are trying out gouache for the first time. Once you run out of one specific color, the brand allows you to purchase tubes of paint separately.
This paint set is highly pigmented and has a matte, opaque finish once it dries off. The consistency is great for blending colors together and layering them on top of one another in your artwork. The paint also dries off considerably fast. This is an important feature because it lets you continuously work when you’re layering paint on top of each other.
It’s important to note that these gouache paints are non-toxic. To back this up, the ARTEZA Gouache Paint has an AP seal. This means that it is certified in a toxicological evaluation by a medical expert to not contain materials that can be toxic to humans. This makes it suitable for students and kids alike since they’ll be safe while using the set.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕Wide variety of colors | ➖Some colors are not as vibrant as the others |
| ➕Certified to be non-toxic | |
| ➕Replacement of color is easy |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 60 Vibrant Colors of Gouache Artist Paint: Our gouache paint has a high level of pigment content, which gives artists the opportunity to blend their own color mixes.
- Rich and Opaque Coverage: The opacity of our professional gouache paint lends itself to layering beautifully. We formulated our paint set so that a little bit goes a long way.
- Nontoxic Viscous Formula: It’s important to us that all of our products, including our artist gouache set, is completely toxin-free. This set is safe and suitable for artists at all levels.
- Designed and Created by Artists: Here at Arteza, we are passionate about creating products that inspire. For us, art is an expression of the human experience. That’s why we work to make our art...
- We Care About Our Customers: We want to ensure you have a great experience with our products because we truly care about our customers. Our team strives to create products we’re proud of. If you...
5. Schmincke Horadam Gouache
Best paint for professionals
Package: Tube | Paint Type: Gouache | Color: 10 colors
Schmincke Horadam Watercolors started the development of watercolors way back in 1881. In 1892, one of the co-founders, Josef Horadam, started creating their line of Horadam Aquarell watercolors. Since then, they have been perfecting the art of creating beautifully pigmented watercolors.
Don’t get confused! The label says watercolor paints but they’re really gouache paint. In this set, you’ll get 10 vibrant colors that are stored in 15ml tubes. These tubes are then stored in a metal box so it’s easy to bring around with you.
This particular brand is of professional grade so the gouache paint is very high-quality. It has very striking opacity once you apply it to paper even when it’s watered down. You can also easily mix these colors together to create more beautiful colors.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕High-quality paint | ➖It is expensive |
| ➕Highly pigmented colors | ➖Limited color selection |
| ➕Can be mixed well together |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 🎨 THE BRAND: Schmincke has been producing the best, finest artists' colors Made in Germany since 1881 and they are available in over 60 countries. The range includes watercolors, acrylics, oil...
- 🎨 HORADAM GOUACHE: stable metal box with 10 colors of finest artist gouache in 15 ml (L x W x H 22.7 x 11.6 x 3 cm), an extensive assortment in best HORADAM quality for gouache painting and...
- 🎨 COLORS: colors included are - 102 titanium white, 220 lemon yellow, 226 cadmium yellow tone, 342 cadmium red tone, 354 madder lake deep, 464 ultramarine deep, 520 helio green bluish, 640 titanium...
- 🎨 QUALITY: The professional HORADAM gouache is made with the best, genuine artist's pigments, with natural opacity without adding white. The highest concentration of pigments ensures luminosity and...
- 🎨 Application: HORADAM GOUACHE is ready to use directly and can be thinned with water. Mixable and combinable with all other gouache colors from Schmincke. It dries matt and becomes slightly...
6. M. Graham Artists’ Gouache Primary Set
Best primary color gouache paint set
Package: Tube | Paint Type: Gouache | Color: 5 colors
The M. Graham Artists’ Gouache Primary set comes in only 5 colors. These colors are Azo Yellow, Naphthol Red, Cobalt Blue, Ivory Black, and Titanium Yellow. If you’ve noticed, these are the colors you need to create every other color, hence, the primary set.
If you’re interested in more colors, the company also sells separate tubes. All in all, there are 30 more colors to choose from to complete your set.
These tubes only come in 15 ml tubes. That’s relatively small compared to other gouache paints on this list. It’s also considerably pricy but then the quality of paint you’ll be getting is well worth the price.
Once applied to paper, this gouache paint has very vibrant pigments. It’s also relatively easy to mix colors together so you won’t have a hard time creating more colors out of the primary set. They blend beautifully and produce very solid colors.
It’s also worth noting that these colors are very opaque. Of course, as with any gouache paint, you can add a little more water to it to make it more transparent. That said, when the paint dries, you get a nice matte and opaque finish.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕High-quality paint | ➖It is expensive |
| ➕It’s easy to mix colors together |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Artist quality gouache paint made with pure blackberry honey
- Free for chalk and opacifying adulterants
- Reflective matte finish provides a vehicle to be used alone or in mixed media combination with watercolor
- High pigment loads of deep dense color
- Made in the USA
7. Holbein Artists’ Gouache
Widest color range gouache paint set
Package: Tube | Paint Type: Gouache | Color: 12, 18, 24, and 84 colors
The Holbein Artists’ Gouache 12-color set comes in 15 ml tubes. It comes with 12 beautiful and vibrant colors that are rich with pigment. You can also get this gouache paint in a set of 18, 24, and 84 colors.
Once the colors have dried up, they have a matte and opaque finish. You also won’t have trouble mixing these paints together. You can tell that it’s high-quality gouache because it doesn’t darken, bleed or crack once it dries up.
It’s important to note that you can buy single tubes of this gouache paint. This becomes very helpful when you run out of only a select number of colors. You don’t have to purchase a whole set again to get the colors you need.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕Wide range of colors | ➖Expensive |
| ➕Thick and opaque in nature |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Holbein Artists' Gouache Set - Set of 12, 15 ml tubes
8. Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache
Best gouache paint with high levels of pigmentation
Package: Tube | Paint Type: Gouache | Color: 14 colors
The Winsor & Newton Designers’ Gouache Introductory set comes with 10 colors stored in 14 ml tubes. These include colors like Primary Yellow, Spectrum Red, Ultramarine Blue, Ivory Black, Zinc White, etc.
This gouache paint prides itself in having high levels of pigmentation in the formulation of its colors. This results in high opacity and a smooth color mixing experience.
These colors have such a high level of pigment that you won’t find any trouble layering them on top of each other. They will still appear very bright and opaque if you paint them on top of each other.
It’s also important to note that because of the high levels of pigmentation, this gouache paint has a very matte finish. This helps reduce the reflection of light when photographing artworks made with this paint.
Aside from that, this paint has a lightfastness I which is the highest rating of lightfastness. This means that the paint won’t fade for a very long time even if it’s exposed to light.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕Wide range of colors | ➖The thickness of the paint varies from one to another |
| ➕High level of pigmentation |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Opaque Water Colors renowned for their color brilliance & matt finish
- Introductory set ideal for designers
- Includes 6 primary colors in 14 ml (0.47 oz.) tubes
9. Caran D’Ache Gouache Studio Box Set
Best pan set gouache paint
Package: Palette | Paint Type: Gouache | Color: 15 colors
The Caran d’Ache Gouache Studio is a very interesting gouache set because instead of tubes, it comes in pans. The 14 colors of this set are in pans arranged horizontally. It also comes with 1 tube of white so you can mix it with the colors to get lighter shades. All of these are housed by a metal box that holds all of the colors together.
To activate the paint, all you have to do is add water to your brush and rub it against the color tablet. This will activate the color and behave just like gouache paint from a tube.
This set is great for quick sketches when you’re out traveling because it’s compact and easy to use. You can simply bring it with you when you’re traveling, bring out a cup of water, and start painting away! Gouache in tubes can be quite messy and tedious to clean up so this is a great alternative.
It’s important to note though that this isn’t the best gouache to use if you’re a professional. It’s a student-grade gouache set but its pigment is very opaque and easy to work with. It’s also very easy to mix together colors so you won’t have any problems with that.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕The convenience of a palette set | ➖The colors can be quite dark |
| ➕Can be layered well |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Set of 15 pans of gouache
- Supplies
- Quality Art Products
- Resists cracking
- Made in Switzerland
10. Royal Talens Art Creation Gouache
Best for students and beginners
Package: Tube | Paint Type: Gouache | Color: 24 colors
The Royal Talens – Art Creation Gouache Paints Set has 24 different colors that are packaged in 12 ml tubes. It contains colors like Lemon Yellow, Vermilion, Scarlet, Cobalt Blue, Deep Green, Burnt Sienna, etc. You can also get this set in an 8-piece set and a 12-piece set.
Royal Talens has been producing high-quality paint for over 110 years now. When it comes to quality, Royal Talens is one of the best options for gouache paints. The paint is highly pigmented so it’s very opaque. You can always mix in a bit more water to thin it out and make it a bit more transparent.
With the formulation of this gouache, it dries easily once you apply it to paper. This makes it easier for users to continuously paint layers upon layers. It’s great for students and beginners who are just starting to get to know the properties of gouache.
It’s important to note though that this gouache paint can only be bought in a set. This means if you run out of a specific color, you won’t be able to buy each color separately.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕Affordable | ➖Colors cannot be bought separately |
| ➕High pigmented paint |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The Art Creation collection is perfect for artists of any skill level who are looking for professional quality materials at the most competitive prices.
- With its ability to dry within several minutes, gouache is one of the most practical paints to work with.
- Not only perfect for creating matt, streak-free sections, its water soluble nature allows it to work fluently with watercolour paints.
- Suitable for use on a variety of grounds, such as paper, carton, and wood.
- Set contains the following gouache colours: White (100), Lemon Yellow (205), Light Yellow (201), Medium Yellow (293), Deep Yellow (202), Flesh Tint (374), Vermilion (311), Scarlet (334), Carmine...
11. Miya Gouache Paint Set
Best jelly gouache paint
Package: Palette | Paint Type: Gouache | Color: 56 colors
The Miya Gouache Paint Set is an exciting and very interesting gouache paint set. You have 56 colors that are packaged individually in 30 ml jelly cups. They are all encased in this beautiful plastic white box that has a minimalist design.
This gouache set looks like a jelly treat that you can buy in a grocery store. Once you peel off the plastic cover on top, it will reveal the gouache paint that has a jelly-like consistency.
Be careful in opening them because it can be quite messy. Usually, there’s a small amount of paint stuck on the plastic cover. It can feel like a waste of paint so a lot of artists use this to create swatches of the color.
If you use the gouache paint on its own, it has a very acrylic paint texture to it. It’s thick and very opaque. It’s also very easy to use because it dries up very fast so you can continue working even when working with layers. If you want more transparent colors, all you have to do is add a bit more water to it and it will behave like watercolor.
A lot of users report that the paint tends to harden and dry up in the container. No need to panic when this happens because all you have to do is spray a little water on it and it’ll go back to its original jelly-like consistency.
Once you run out of a specific color, you can always buy refills of specific colors online. You can get similar 30 ml jelly cups or you can get the 90 ml pouch version.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕Thick and creamy paints | ➖Can be quite messy to work with |
| ➕Super opaque and vivid colors | |
| ➕Refills of individual colors are available online |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 56 LASTING VIBRANT COLORS: each color has 30 ml of large content. Each paint has a fantastic thick consistency which will retain brush or spatula marks and give your work brilliant texture.
- RICH COLORS: 56 colors will meet all your painting needs, rich color choices make your painting easier. The upgraded carrying case has double handles that make it comfortable to handle. Hassle-free...
- NEW DESIGN: Upgraded unique jelly cup design with an excellent sealing lid will keep our gouache paints wet and creamy for better artist painting, portable jelly cup size perfect for outdoor painting.
- HIGH-QUALITY PIGMENT: All paints are thick and creamy do not shift or become muddy, can be diluted with plenty of water do not cracking or crumbling when the paint dries. Beautiful and practical color...
- 100% SATISFACTION SERVICE: Made from quality pigments and designed for artists, art hobbyists, and students. Safe, non-toxic, conforms to safety certificates: U.S. ASTM D-4236 & EU EN71. 100%...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gouache used by professional artists?
A lot of professional artists use gouache for their work. This is because it’s versatile and easy to work with. It also has a similar charm to watercolor paint but with a little more opacity.
Which is the best gouache paint for beginners?
Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache and Royal Talens Art Creation Gouache are the best gouache paint for beginners and for practicing.
Which kind of paper should we use for gouache?
Since gouache is similar to watercolor, it’s best to use paper with 200 GSM or more. It’s important to note that since gouache is water activated, it can warp the paper a little so using 300 GSM paper is also okay. GSM is an acronym for Grams per Square Meter and the higher the GSM, the heavier the paper.
Can we mix gouache with water paints?
Yes! A lot of professionals use these 2 paints together. It’s important to note though that both paints can be activated with water so it’s best to proceed with caution. A good rule of thumb to follow is as you add more layers, your paint should also be thicker.
Best Gouache Paint Summary
In case you’ve forgotten how to pronounce it, gouache is pronounced as “gw-ash”. It’s an amazing medium to work with if you’re just starting your painting journey. It’s versatile and very easy to work with.
Gouache is also a great medium for professional painters. There are a lot of brands out there that are of professional quality. These gouache paints are highly pigmented and have a very high lightfastness. This ensures that your artwork will surpass the test of time.
We have included a wide selection of the best gouache paints in this list. We have covered budget-friendly ones and even luxurious ones. We have also covered student and beginner-friendly products as well as ones that are best suited for professionals.
At the end of the day, the best gouache paint for you is the one that fits your needs.
Good luck and have fun painting with gouache!
Do you have any other suggestions for good gouache paints? Tell us more in the comments below so we can include them in the list!