Table of Contents

Introduction 6
What is gouache? 8
Materials 12
Getting started 16
Colour and light 22
THE ART OF GOUACHE 32
Gouache techniques 34
Overcoming common problems 52
Project: Rosebay Willowherb 54
CREATIVE GOUACHE 66
POSTER STYLE 74
Introducing poster style 76
Project: Ullswater Lake 80
ILLUSTRATIVE STYLE 94
Introducing illustrative style 96
Project: Red Onion Still Life 102
Moving forwards 114
Composition 116
Painting portraits 126
Painting animals 132
Framing and mounting 140
Afterword 143
Index 144

About the Author

Jeremy Ford studied Graphic Design at the Southport College of Art, and Illustration at the Harrow College of Art. He has been a successful freelance illustrator, artist, demonstrator and teacher since 1978 and has illustrated a wide variety of books and greetings cards. Jeremy is the author of How to Paint: Water Colours and Painting Pastel Landscapes. He lives in Yorkshire, UK and runs popular painting workshops and holidays.

Reviews

If gouache is a medium you've been wanting to explore, this fantastic book gives you everything you need! An often overlooked medium, Jeremy present this 'opaque watercolour' via using a wide variety of styles and subjects. Ge us a patient and confident teacher and it's impossible not to be enthused by the results he produces here.
*The SAA*

Quick-drying and water-based, gouache is the ideal medium for the beginner as it is so forgiving and work can be painted over if corrections are necessary. In The Art of Gouache, experienced author Jeremy Ford, introduces us to the medium, with information on materials and tools and comprehensive descriptions of techniques, including overlaying colours, colour blending and troubleshooting. Jeremy clearly illustrates the exciting possibilities the medium offers, with plenty of paintings in various styles to inspire you. Three step-by-step projects are included; Rosebay Willowherb; Ullswater Lake; and Red Onion Still Life.
*Leisure Painter, May 2019*

'Just as they did with Oil Pastels, Search Press have set out to rescue a Cinderella medium and, in Jeremy Ford, they’ve found an author who’s prepared not merely to look at the medium, but to champion and challenge it. A substantial book with plenty of illustrations, examples, lessons, exercises and demonstrations, this is as thorough and comprehensive a guide as you could wish for. Jeremy not only discusses materials and techniques, but looks at just about every way gouache can be used, from straightforward representation to poster-style and to images that look almost photographic. Subjects include landscapes, flowers, people and animals and there’s plenty of instruction as well as discussion of what you might want to do and how to tackle it.' 'If you want to learn about gouache, this should keep you satisfied for a very long time.' Read the full review here.
*Artbookreview.net*