Gouache for Beginners: Quick and Easy Animals is a beginner-friendly gouache painting course. Learn basic wet-on-dry gouache layering, all while painting and simplifying seven cute lil animal friends.

When I was first painting with gouache I was frustrated with mixing mud and often disappointed with the final results.

If I ever felt brave enough to try painting animals I’d get lost in all their various shapes, proportions, and textures, and let’s be honest, I was intimidated to capture their faces.

This is the course I wish I had when I was starting out: something to inform me without over-informing me, and a satisfying but truly beginner-friendly project to follow along with.

In one 45-minute session, or multiple, shorter sessions, students can expect to start at zero and end with:

an understanding of gouache
how gouache is similar and different to acrylic gouache
how to achieve various textures (for ex. watery and blendy, flowy and opaque, dry and textured)
how to work in layers to create seven simple animal paintings (polar bear, cat, duck, bird, giraffe, bunny, and kangaroo)

Students will also be walked through a clear process to help break down animal references into simple:

prominent details
form lines
textures + pops

A thorough course resource PDF is provided, including:

Animal reference photos
Materials list
Process overview
Gouache tips

Meet your teacher:

Dylan Mierzwinski is an illustrator and sketchbook enthusiast known for her warmth and ability to demystify complex ideas, making them accessible and encouraging for fellow artists. She’s been painting with gouache since 2017 when she stumbled into it not knowing a thing. Since then she’s filled over 20 sketchbooks, has had her artwork and illustrations featured with elite clients, and has taught over 150k students online and in person to find their doorway into their creative practice, have fun, and grow from their mistakes. She lives in Dayton, Ohio with her very cute husband Brooks and her very cute dog Stevie.

Melanie Richards

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