Gouache: A Self-Study Guide (Second Edition)

Published in Russian by EKSMO · Second, updated, revised, and expanded edition released in 2010 and reprinted to this day (first edition 2004) · Chinese publishing rights acquired in 2019 · Not yet available in English.

Part of the "Learn to Paint with Olga Shmatova" series. Gouache: A Self-Study Guide — second edition, updated, revised, and expanded — was published by EKSMO in 2010 and has been reprinted ever since.

About the Book

After the success of the first edition in 2004 and the launch of the "Learn to Paint with Olga Shmatova" series, the Gouache Self-Study Guide needed to be updated and expanded. The second edition, released in 2010, added new gouache techniques of the author's own devising and was enriched with additional student works that vividly demonstrate how effective the method is.

The book has won wide recognition both in Russia — where it is recommended for study in art schools and supplementary education programs — and abroad. In 2019, the publishing rights to the book were acquired by a Chinese publisher, confirming the universality and appeal of the author's approach to teaching gouache painting.

What sets the second edition apart is the expansion of the techniques section from ten to sixteen techniques, along with the addition of new works by students who achieved impressive results thanks to the method presented in the book.

Authorship and Editions

2004 — first publication in Russia of the author's method of working with gouache for artists
2010 — release of the second, improved and expanded edition in the "Learn to Paint with Olga Shmatova" series, which has been reprinted to this day

Important: The year printed in the book may differ from the year of first publication, because the publisher updates it with each reprint. To check which edition you are holding, look at the imprint information on the last page of the book. The ISBN may also change from one reprint to another.

About This Edition

ISBN 978-5-699-41935-7
Publisher: EKSMO
80 pages, illustrated
Format: 84×108 1/16
2010 — second, improved and expanded edition

Who This Book Is For

Beginning artists who want to master the technique of gouache
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 material 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

Colors are easy to adjust and details easy to correct — 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 display these days

The Author's Method

The gouache techniques presented in this 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 art lovers alike.

A significant part of the method laid out in this self-study guide was developed and tested by Olga Shmatova while 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 the Gouache Self-Study Guide appeared, it was widely believed that painting techniques could not be taught through a book — only in person, with a teacher who could demonstrate the techniques directly and "set" the student's hand.

Olga Shmatova proved otherwise. Thanks to the book's carefully 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 instruction.

Materials, equipment, and painting techniques
The author's style
Useful habits
Materials and equipment for working in gouache
Starting and finishing a painting

Painting techniques

Flat application
Applying opaque layers
Wash
Diluted gouache
Fine lines with a brush
Softening edges
Blending with water
Blending with paint
Dry brush
Brushstrokes
Wet-on-wet
Stencils
Stamps
Reserving the ground
Spattering
Lifting off paint

Paint Along: Step-by-Step Paintings

Summer Day
Rose
Still Life with Fruit
Seaside Town
Fox
Portrait

What Makes This Book Special

Clear explanations with examples of 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 fix them
Practical tips for carrying out each technique successfully
A system of exercises for every technique
A "Paint Along" section with six paintings created step by step

What You Will Learn

Skills and techniques for working in gouache
Creating smooth transitions of color and tone
Drawing fine lines
Applying semi-transparent layers
Original gouache techniques
Choosing materials and tools

Practice Assignments

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

The Illustrations in This Book

The Gouache Self-Study Guide features works by both the author and her students. Olga Shmatova did not always sign the illustrations, trusting that readers would be able to tell professional works from student works intuitively.

The Author Thanks Her Students

The book includes works by: Kristina Krey, Irina Guseva, Elena Petracheva, Tatyana Korotkikh, Galina Kulikova, Nailya Alyautdinova, Svetlana Sapozhnikova, Marina Kurdyukova, Yulia Afonina, Tatyana Veselova, Natalya Dikaya, Galina Solovyova, Evgenia Neroznikova, Evgenia Yeltysheva, Alexey Petrov, Zinaida Tripus, Natalya Vinokurlova, Elena Smirnova, Elizaveta Shiryaeva, Tatyana Dobrichenko, Natalya Sudakova, Nina Kulikova.