I’m studying and experimenting with gouache right now. I’m trying to find a style of painting that will allow me to paint realistically.

I think I’ve found a promising method.

I’m using gouache thinly like you do with watercolor.

Most gouache artists I see use gouache thick, right out the tube, and while I have no problem with their style, it’s not what I prefer. If I could, I’d like to paint with more control and subtlety. Again, no offense to those who paint like that.

After watching some YouTube videos, I saw that it is possible to use gouache like watercolor. You just thin it down like watercolor.

I also looked at a few botanical watercolor artists because botanical watercolorists like to paint their subjects realistically. They might not be the only type of watercolor artists that paint realistically, but they were one of the best examples I came across and who were willing to give lessons.

Here, with these two roses, I’ve painted in gouache but thinly like watercolor. I like the result.

However, I am intending to push things a little farther with my future paintings. I want to build of what I’ve learned, experiment with it.