A Peek Inside My Gouache Kit: Must Have Tools
Art kits are deeply personal — curated to each artist, much like a makeup bag is to its owner. Just as I wouldn’t stroll into Sephora and pick out random products for a makeup lover, I know every artist’s toolkit is unique to their style and process. Still, there’s something fascinating about peeking into someone else’s kit, discovering their go-to supplies and the stories behind them. So today, I’m opening up my gouache painting kit to share the staple tools I rely on, and why they’ve earned a spot in my creative routine. From the paints I can’t live without to the brushes that bring my ideas to life, each item in my kit has a purpose. Let’s dive into the essentials that help me create those dreamy, painterly gouache pieces — starting with my favorite paints!
Paints
Winsor and Newton Designers Gouache paint 14ml tubes: I love how bright and smooth these colors are. A little goes a long way — you don’t need much to get full coverage on paper. They can be used straight out of the tube for an opaque look or diluted with water for a soft, watercolor effect. If you want to see how these paints come to life in my artwork, check out my gouache art prints in my Etsy shop.
Winsor and Newton Designers Gouache Zinc White 37ml tube: I go through white paint the fastest so whenever it's on sale at Blick I make sure to purchase tube or two. Zinc white is great for thickening a streakier paint like Winsor Green. It's also great for adding details. Finally Zinc white is great for mixing into bright colors for a pastel look.
Quick tip: To lighten a color, add a tiny bit of your paint color into your white paint. This method uses less white paint and helps you achieve your desired tint faster than adding white into your color.
Brushes
I like to keep a versatile brush set for different techniques:
Round brush: 2, 4, 6, 8
Filbert Brush: 2, 4, 6, 8
Large 1" filbert brush: Perfect for when I run out of space on my palette. Instead of stopping to clean it, I use this brush dipped in water to clear off a section quickly and wipe the wet area dry with a paper towel.
Tools & Palettes
Palette knife: I use a palette knife to scoop zinc white paint out of my airtight palette box and onto my plastic palette. This helps me grab just the right amount of paint without wasting any by letting it dry out on the palette.
Mini spray bottle: Before each painting session, and throughout I spritz my paint palette and palette box to keep the paints from drying out.
Washi tape: Helps me create clean edges and frame my work while painting.
Plastic paint palette: Plastic paint palettes are affordable, easy to clean, portable, and easy to store.
Airtight paint storage palette box: This keeps my gouache paints fresh between sessions. It’s a game-changer for saving time since I don’t have to set up my paints from scratch each time I sit down to create.
Cleanup Essentials
Paper towels and washcloths: Great for blotting brushes, cleaning palettes, and keeping my workspace tidy.
Water Jars: I always keep two on hand; one for rinsing brushes and the other for adding clean water to my gouache paints when they start to dry out.
Paper
Cold-pressed paper: I use a variety of paper brands, but I prefer Cold pressed paper because it’s readily available at my local art supply stores, and has a softly textured surface that pairs nicely with my preferred gouache painting style
Bring Art Into Your Home
If you love the look of gouache art, why not add a dreamy, painterly touch to your living space? Browse my collection of floral art printables in my Etsy shop or check out my latest insect art collection Nature’s Tiny Wonders.
What’s in your art kit?
These are the tools I reach for in every painting session, but every artist’s kit is uniquely theirs. I’d love to hear about what’s in your art kit! What are your go-to supplies, and how do they shape your creative process? Let’s swap tips and tricks in the comments below.