How to Choose Gouache: A Practical Guide

In Brief — How to Choose Gouache

If you are wondering how to choose gouache, start by defining its intended use rather than looking for the largest set. A child’s first creative activity, a school assignment, occasional painting, and a frequently used working palette all involve different requirements.

When choosing, compare four things: the number of colours, the volume of each colour, the convenience of the containers, and the palette required for the particular task. A good choice is a set whose colours you will actually use and that is easy to open, close, and store.

At the beginning, a small palette may be sufficient if the task requires only a few basic colours. A more varied set is useful when you want more ready-made colours and less time spent mixing them. Before making your choice, you can browse the gouache paint collection in one place and compare the options using the same criteria.

Main Selection Criteria

The first criterion is the user. Beginners benefit from an easy-to-understand palette and a number of colours that does not make selection too complicated. As experience grows, the need for different tones and more paint may also increase.

The second criterion is the task. Write down in advance what needs to be painted and which colours are essential. If a school or studio assignment specifies a particular list, your choice should be based on those requirements rather than solely on the appearance of the packaging.

• Number of colours: how many ready-made colours you need in practice;
• Volume: how often you will use the paint and for what size of artwork;
• Packaging: how easy it is to open, close, and organise each colour;
• Palette: whether the set includes the colours required for the task;
• Storage: whether you have a compact and stable place for the set.

Do not assess one feature in isolation. More colours do not automatically make a set a better choice, while a larger volume may be less practical if the paint is used infrequently. The aim is to find a balance between the size of the set and actual use.

Size, Materials, and Intended Use

Number of Colours and Volume Are Not the Same

More colours in a set mean a broader ready-made palette, but not necessarily a larger amount of each colour. Check the number of colours and the stated volume separately. If you frequently need one particular colour, relying only on the total number of colours will not be enough.

For small artworks, introductory activities, and short assignments, a compact option is often easier to manage. For frequent painting or large areas of colour, pay more attention to volume and how quickly the most commonly used colours may run out.

“Materials” does not refer only to the paint—the surface also matters. Decide in advance what paper or other base you plan to paint on and what additional items you will need. Using gouache is more organised when you prepare a brush, a water container, a surface for mixing colours, and a cleaning cloth at your workspace.

How to Compare Options Step by Step

When comparing options, ask the same questions about each one. This makes you less likely to be swayed by large packaging or a colourful design and helps you see which set suits your task.

• Write down the three most common ways you expect to use the set;
• Identify the essential colours and preferred additional tones;
• Compare the number of colours and the volume of each one separately;
• Look at the product photos to see how the containers open and close;
• Decide where you will store the set after use;
• Finally, choose the option that meets the greatest number of essential requirements.

You can also use simple priority categories: “essential,” “preferred,” and “optional.” If two sets meet the essential requirements equally well, decide based on volume, compactness, or additional colours—whichever matters most to you.

How to Assess Two Different Sets

For example, when comparing six-colour and twelve-colour options, do not immediately assume that more is always better. Six colours may suit a simple exercise and colour-mixing practice, while twelve colours may suit a task for which you want more ready-made tones. The final answer depends not on the number, but on your task.

Using Gouache — What to Consider from the First Day

Before the first use, prepare only the colours you need and a small workspace. Start thinning the paint with a small amount of water and observe the result on the working surface. Adding too much water at once makes control more difficult, so adjust the amount gradually.

When mixing colours, work with small quantities. If the resulting tone is unsuitable, less paint will be wasted. It is also useful to make small colour samples on a separate sheet of paper so that you can see how the chosen combination looks after drying.

When you finish working, close the containers one by one, clean the workspace, and store the set in an orderly place. This simple habit reduces the risk of accidentally mixing colours or leaving a container open.

Common Selection Mistakes

The most common mistake is assessing a set only by its number of colours. If you do not need part of the palette at all, a large set will not offer a practical advantage. Another mistake is overlooking volume—sets with the same number of colours may differ in this respect.

Choosing solely from the packaging photo is also a mistake. Read the product title and the information provided on the page, then check whether they match your list. Do not attribute a feature to a product unless it is explicitly stated in the description.

• Do not buy a large palette solely “for the future”;
• Do not confuse the number of colours with the volume of paint;
• Do not skip checking the colours required for the task;
• Do not forget to assess your storage and workspace;
• Do not compare options using different criteria.

Practical Recommendations for Choosing

If you would like to consider a smaller palette, you can view the Yalong gouache, 6 colours, 83005-6. Compare it with your list of essential colours and decide whether six colours are enough for your planned activity.

For comparison with a broader palette, see the Yalong gouache, 12 colours, 15 ml, 83003-12 (12-X-72). You can use the 12 colours and 15 ml stated in its title as two separate comparison criteria: how many ready-made colours you need and whether the volume suits your intended use.

If the set is being chosen for a child, involve the user in the decision: make a short list of preferred colours together and decide where the paint will be stored. If you are choosing for a particular assignment, check the teacher’s or activity’s requirements first.

Conclusion — The Purpose Determines the Right Choice

There is no universal answer to the question “how to choose gouache,” but the reliable method is simple: identify the user and the task, list the essential colours, assess the number of colours and volume separately, and then consider packaging and storage.

Ultimately, choose the most suitable set rather than the largest one. By assessing a product in this order, you can more easily determine whether you need a compact palette or more ready-made colours and which option fits your actual use.