🎨 GUIDED PAINTING TUTORIAL — Color Cube Scene #357

Medium: Gouache (Holbein)

⛰️ About This Scene

Inspired by Color Cube Card #357 by Sarah Renae Clark, this project focuses on calm and vibrant mountain landscapes created with gouache.
We’ll use cool greens and blues balanced with soft warmth to build peaceful layers, clean shapes, and atmospheric depth.

This scene is perfect for exploring opacity, layering, and confident mark-making with gouache.

🎨 Paint Colors Used (Holbein Gouache)

  • Ivory Black - (structure, depth, and grounding shadows)
  • Titanium White / Zinc White - (highlights, mist, and subtle atmospheric softness)
  • Turquoise Green / Bamboo Green - (fresh vibrancy and natural movement)
  • Prussian Blue - (deep cool shadows and dramatic contrast)
  • Ultramarine Blue - (soft distant layers and atmospheric perspective)
  • Amur Cork Yellow - (gentle warmth and glowing light)

Together, these colors create a soothing yet energetic palette that feels grounded and alive.

📄 Paper

  • Hahnemühle 300 lb Hot Press Paper
    The smooth surface is ideal for gouache—allowing for crisp edges, layered opacity, and controlled blending.

🖌️ Brushes Used

  • Stiff White Taklon Brushes (like Princeton SNAP, or Rosemary Snowdrops)

For this project, stiff Taklon brushes are intentionally used instead of sable brushes.
They allow for:

  • Strong, confident strokes
  • Clean edges in layered mountains
  • Better control with thicker gouache paint
  • Less water absorption (perfect for opacity)

✨ Before You Begin

Set up your space for a relaxed, successful painting session:

  • Protect your surface with paper towels or puppy pads (our go-to at the Art Café).
  • Prepare two jars of clean water:
    • One for rinsing paint
    • One for a final clean dip
  • Keep a mixing palette nearby—gouache benefits from intentional color mixing
  • Mix enough paint before you begin each layer to maintain consistency

  • Remember: gouache rewards decisive, confident strokes

🧼 Brush Care: Do’s & Don’ts

✔️ Do

  • Rinse brushes thoroughly between colors
  • Wipe brushes gently in one direction on a towel
  • Reshape bristles before laying brushes flat to dry
  • Clean brushes promptly after painting (gouache dries matte and fast)

❌ Don’t

  • Don’t leave brushes sitting in water
    This bends bristles and weakens the adhesive in the ferrule
  • Don’t scrub aggressively back and forth
    Even Taklon fibers last longer with gentle handling
  • Don’t store brushes upright while wet

Stiff Taklon brushes are durable, but thoughtful care keeps them performing beautifully.

▶️ Ready to Paint?

Choose how you’d like to follow along:

  • Full Real-Time Gouache Tutorial

  • Sped-Up Demonstration

🌟 Continue Your Creative Journey

Loved this project? Come explore more colors, more mediums, and more creative experiences at the Huntsville Art Café!  

Whether you want to try watercolor, gouache, markers, ink, or something totally new, we’ll have everything set up and ready for your next artistic adventure.

🎨 Book your next Art Café Experience here:  huntsvilleartcafe.com

💛 Bonus:
Any art supplies you purchase during your Art Café session are 10% off
(as long as they aren’t already discounted).

We can’t wait to paint with you again!