Gouache: A Self-Study Guide (First Edition)

Published in Russian by EKSMO · In print 2004–2010, regularly reprinted · Out of print — superseded by the second edition (2010) · Publication rights acquired by a Chinese publisher (2019) · Not yet available in English.

Gouache: A Self-Study Guide (first edition) — the first Russian book on gouache painting — was published by EKSMO in 2004 and reissued in 2010. Originally published in the "Classical Artist's Library" series, the book was in print at EKSMO from 2004 to 2010.

About the Book

First published in 2004, this book became the first systematic guide to working with gouache for adult artists in Russia. It was here that many gouache techniques that are now standard practice were first described.

The self-study guide earned high praise from the professional community and is recommended for study in a range of Russian educational institutions:

• Specialized secondary and higher educational institutions
• Art schools
• Supplementary (after-school) education programs

Such broad adoption speaks to the universality and effectiveness of the method presented in the book, which has been used successfully to teach both adults and children.

Authorship and Editions

• 2004 — first publication of the author's method of working with gouache for artists in Russia
• The book was regularly reprinted by EKSMO in response to steady demand
• 2010 — release of the second, improved and expanded edition

Important: The year printed in the book may differ from the year of first publication, because the publisher updates it with every reprint. To check which edition you are holding, look at the publishing information on the last page of the book.

The author's gouache techniques presented in the book were first systematized and published in this self-study guide in 2004. Today these techniques have become standard in gouache instruction — a confirmation of their effectiveness and universality. International recognition of the method is confirmed by a Chinese publisher's acquisition of the book's publication rights (2019).

Edition Information

• ISBN 978-5-699-10166-5
• Publisher: EKSMO
• 80 pages with illustrations
• Format: 84×108 1/16 (Russian standard sheet-format notation)
• First published in 2004

Who This Book Is For

• Beginning artists who want to master gouache technique
• Anyone who wants to use the full painterly potential of gouache
• Artists looking to raise their technical level
• Anyone who wants to learn the techniques of an experienced professional

Why Gouache?

Before this book came out, gouache was often dismissed as a medium strictly for children. In reality, it is an underrated painting medium, capable of conveying the subtlest shades of color and creating a velvety surface that captivates the viewer.

The Advantages of Gouache

• Mistakes are easy to fix — unlike watercolor, gouache lets you paint over unsuccessful strokes
• Convenient to work with — it dries quickly, has no odor, and is ideal for painting at home
• Modern gouache paints are affordable and lightfast
• Finished works are easy to frame and present under modern conditions

The Author's Method

The gouache techniques presented in the book are the original working methods of Olga Shmatova, an outstanding artist and teacher. These are the very techniques that enabled the author to create sought-after paintings and miniatures, recognized by the professional community and by art lovers alike.

A significant part of the method set out in this guide was developed and tested by Olga Shmatova in the course of teaching at her own art studio. The Olga Shmatova Studio specialized in teaching adults from scratch, and that invaluable experience became the foundation of the book.

A Unique Approach

Before Gouache: A Self-Study Guide appeared, it was widely believed that artistic techniques could not be taught through a book — only through personal contact with a teacher who could demonstrate the techniques directly and "set" the student's hand.

Olga Shmatova proved that belief wrong. Thanks to the book's well-thought-out structure, detailed descriptions, and clear illustrations, readers can master complex techniques on their own, without a teacher at their side. This was a genuine breakthrough in art education.

Contents

Materials, Equipment, and Painting Techniques

• The author's style
• Helpful habits
• Materials and equipment for painting in gouache
• Starting and finishing a painting

Painting Techniques

1. Flat application
2. Wash
3. Diluted gouache
4. Softening edges
5. Blending with water
6. Dry brush
7. Brushstrokes
8. Wet-on-wet
9. Stencils
10. Stamps

Painting Together: Step-by-Step Paintings

• A Summer Day
• A Rose
• Still Life with Fruit
• A Seaside Town
• A Fox
• A Portrait

What Makes This Book Special

• Clear explanations, with example works by the author and her students
• Detailed step-by-step illustrations of the techniques
• Technique diagrams with advice on how much paint and water to use
• Descriptions of common mistakes and how to correct them
• Practical tips for carrying out each technique successfully
• A system of exercises for every technique
• A "Painting Together" section with six paintings created step by step

What You Will Learn

• The fundamental skills and techniques of painting in gouache
• Creating smooth transitions of color and tone
• Painting fine lines
• Applying semi-transparent layers
• Choosing materials and tools
• Framing, presenting, and storing your work

Practical Exercises

• 10 fundamental gouache techniques
• 3–10 exercises in each chapter on painting techniques
• 6 complete step-by-step painting demonstrations

The Illustrations in the Book

Gouache: A Self-Study Guide features works by both the author and her students. At first, Olga Shmatova did not always label the illustrations, assuming that readers would intuitively be able to tell professional works from student works.

But the quality of the paintings made by students under Olga's guidance turned out to be so high that even experienced artists could not always determine the authorship with certainty. This is brilliant proof that Olga Shmatova's method allows beginners to achieve impressive results.

At the same time, to avoid confusion, student works in later editions came to be marked with a special symbol — a white smiley face. This lets readers give the author's mastery its due while fully appreciating her students' achievements.

The Author Thanks Her Students

The book includes works by: Andrei Shishov, Tatyana Vakar, Elena Savkina, Tatyana Velichko, Marina Shalashova, Natalya Kurepina, Elena Spiridonova, Tatyana Yatskova, Elena Evseenkova, Natalya Mitrofanova, and Svetlana Nechaeva.

Availability

Gouache: A Self-Study Guide (first edition), originally published in the "Classical Artist's Library" series, is no longer in print, because the second edition has been released. If you cannot find the book for sale, try the libraries in your city.

Not yet available in English.