Your comment covers literally everything that gives me anxiety about painting! I pulled the trigger and just got a set 56 colors on Amazon for like 36$. Same manufacturer as Himi!
To sell as prints, I'd use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Epson-Watercolor-Radiant-Inches-S041351/dp/B00004Z6AI/ This is just a watercolor paper meant for printing and selling it afterwards, not painting.
To print outlines sketched on my iPad, so I can paint it on top afterwards with actual paints, I'd use true painting watercolor paper, whichever I have around each time: Arches, Farbriano, Arteza etc.
Ok, now I see that you are trying to find a palette to put gouache in. As everyone around here has suggested in the past, this is a bad idea to do so. After gouache dries (and it DOES dry, no matter what these palette manufacturers claim), when it rewets it's like sludge (thick watercolor), not like like the thick opaque paint it once was. So, what you're trying to do, won't work with good results. You either should get with you tubes, or buy travel jars, like these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086JXYLF8/ These won't dry out your paint.
I have, and it still dries. If you try to rewet it, it will be like thick watercolor, rather than thick gouache. You can see James Gurney on Youtube, a plein air gouache artist, he's using tubes.
Something very few people know is that you can buy airtight travel jars, intended for cosmetic use. Transfer your gouache to them, and there's no more drying. These are the ones I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086JXYLF8/ I moved my Himi gouache into them.
This is how Poster Color (an industrial version of gouache used by anime studios artists) is being sold as too. So I thought that if it works for Poster Color, it should work for gouache too, and it did.
I got this Windsor and Newton set of 10, that’s all I have tried so far and it has worked brilliantly for me, no complaints. I’d be of the opinion to go for a smaller set of higher quality paints because I’ve heard paint quality really matters with gouache and using cheaper paints could even put you off the medium. This set was €32, not too bad for good quality. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000NB2IDS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_t1_6jIbGb4THVQKP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Np! For bigger pieces that need a little more surface area to keep from buckling, I use this stuff:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BPRGFQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_0ps3FbTNPTDQ5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
For smaller pieces like the one above, I use Washi brand (off brands always rip my paper)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SSJGL7Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_Xss3FbNBRJVR9
I will say: I don't actually like using the cutest designed ones because they are a bit visually distracting when painting, so I save them for my documentation photos :)
WANDIC Palette Box, 1 Pc of 24 Wells Empty Airtight Paints Container for Watercolors Gouache and Oil Painting, Acrylic https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S7DS5TY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_FRSTQFT2H3SZ24VCKM0Y
Someone gifted this to me a while back, but I’m pretty sure this is it:
White watercolor paper. The brand: Fluid - Amazon linkCold Press
In Canada, buy this https://www.amazon.ca/Magicfly-Pigments-including-Beginners-Professional/dp/B089XVLLJQ/
This brand is the EXACT same as Arteza paints, but under a different name.
Studio pebo gouache is what i buy to refill my himi pallette. Though just looking on amazon now apparently himi has a tube gouache now
HIMI Gouache Paint, 24 Colors, 12ml, 0.4 US fl oz Tubes, Non Toxic Paint for Canvas and Paper, Art Supplies for Professionals, Students, Kids and More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091BQJRG4/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_AG1E4H8G0QP54D88STPY
I just finished Landscape Painter's Workbook, and it starts with reductionism, 'reducing the landscape's myriad forms into more simplified shapes and patterns', similar to what you were talking about, and much of that chapter is free to read in the amazon preview.
You could use watercolour brushes, I just wouldn’t use the super soft ones. You need a brush with a bit of snap to handle the thicker consistency. Lately I’ve been using the studio synthetic line from Jackson’s Art and they work well for me. I started with this set from Amazon, and they work well too:
Artify 15 pcs Paint Brush Set for Acrylic Oil Watercolor Gouache Painting Includes Pop-up Carrying Case with Palette Knife and 2 Sponges https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07FY449MZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_ZZCV6EQ15892ZGFTVMC0
Painted in acrylic gouache. Got bogged down in the details on the side of the mountain; could have just left it simpler.
Also: all opaque paint sets should include a gallon of white.
From https://www.pexels.com/photo/mountains-under-the-blue-sky-9267086/
I've been trying a few different mediums since watercolor is so outrageously difficult for me. This is my third gouache painting. I've been looking for simpler references but not having a lot of success finding them. Next time I want to try to be much blockier with the leaves.
From https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-path-in-between-woods-during-autumn-1477199/
I read about it in his book Color and Light! He talks about a few other limited palettes too. It's a fantastic book I would highly recommend to any landscape painter!!
https://www.amazon.ca/Color-Light-Guide-Realist-Painter/dp/0740797719
Very similar to you I only used watercolors for years and bought the starter set from M. Graham and a cheap set from Arteza. I really wish I had not bought the Arteza set and instead just the M Graham and one or two other tubes as needed. I really like M. Graham and have a few holbein colors too which are prob what i'll use going forward. https://www.amazon.com/M-Graham-2-Ounce-Gouache-Primary/dp/B0044TTG76
I think it's a solid set of colors to start and mix from. I think I bought a burnt sienna next and a different brighter and warmer red, but this should be a really good start. I do wish I had bought a bigger tube of white right off the bat since you use so much of it too.
I wouldn't go with jelly gouache on carry on, especially since the amount they allow is so tiny for gels. In fact, I wouldn't put jelly gouache in a check-in luggage either, due to potentially leaking on the clothes. Watercolor pans are doable as carry on, but the water needed might still pose a problem as the plane jerks around.
The best way to do artworks on a plane is with double-ended color pencils. They're just $11 on amazon, plus a pencil, sharpener, eraser, and a small pad, take very little space overall. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L8YZGY2/
If you're in the US, go to Michael's and get their Artist Loft brand. 12 colors for $10. It works just fine, and they're small so you can transport them to places. If you want more for your buck, get this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GFTGGVT/ and then get the 1oz jars I linked for you earlier (less easy to transport though). Regardless, there are cheap solutions, just there isn't good travel solutions. Use watercolor and color pencils for when traveling, gouache at home.
None of these lids really seal properly because they have a large size, giving it more options to fail. If you want gouache that doesn't dry, you need to buy cosmetic-grade jars intended for travel, which are really air tight. Basically, you need to treat gouache like "poster color" (which is a japanese equivalent of gouache, that anime artists used to use) and move it into such jars. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086JXYLF8/
I moved my ArrtX to these, and it's been 2.5 months already, without any drying.
Start with a cheaper gouache. Why pay crazy money for Schmincke for a medium you never tried before and you might, or might not like? I'd suggest the ArrtX 18-color set on Amazon for $18. It'll do what you need to learn and enjoy the process.
As for the brushes, they will be fine if you take care of them as you should. Brushes usually get destroyed easier with acrylic or acrylic gouache, but not so much with normal gouache.
Alternatively, you can buy this brush set on Amazon to use with gouache, if you're afraid about your expensive brushes: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Water-Color-Brush-WS12/dp/B01IQFDF98 I mean, if you have the money to pay dear green Andrew Jacksons for Schmincke, you definitely have $7.50 for alternative brushes.
Do yourself a favor and buy this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086JZ9732 (or the 2oz version if you're using himi gouache). The moment you open your himi, or you pour your tubes into it and then you screw the bottle back, they will stay hydrated for a few years. Not the couple of weeks that himi or stay-wet palettes stay hydrated, or the couple of days on open air palettes. These little bottles truly stay wet for a long, long time. In fact, my husband has acrylics on such a bottle and hasn't dried in the last 8 years.
Yeah agreed. I've wasted so much W&N before I realized that LOL. I did get this little leak proof pallet though recently because I always mix too much paint and not bad. I put some paint in there in early October and it's a little "hard" but still mushy.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DYNHGKY
Not a long term solution for my mixes but good if I'm working on a series where I'm using the same colors!
If she's into Ghibili films, and paints a lot of gouache, you could get her one of the Japanese Ghibili film art books! I have a few of them, and they're good for reference if you're doing studies etc. My fav is the Art of My Neighbor Totoro :)
https://www.amazon.com/Art-My-Neighbor-Totoro-Miyazaki/dp/1591166985
There are books for some of the other Ghibli films too. If you wanted to spend a bit more, I just bought myself and tested out this korean gouache set (look up Sui Gouache on Amazon). It's a really unique little set and really nice quality paints... its like $45ish.
I use a little travel watercolor tin palette and have been very happy with it. It has 2 sides for mixing paints and a ring on the back to hook your finger through to better hold onto it while painting. I tried a few other palettes but found having a closed tin worked best for me so the paint stayed free of dust and debris. You could use your impromptu palette but maybe not load it up with a ton of paint just in case. Since gouache dries quickly and reactivates with water, you can take a small spray bottle to spritz your palette. I also carry a small mason jar with fresh water to clean my brushes and some paper towels. Here’s the link to the palette I own.
MEEDEN Empty Watercolor Tins Palette Paint Case with 24 Pcs Half Pans https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5GR1DH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ZbOKFbBG2A1V0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
By the way, this tin wasn’t watertight so you don’t want to flood your paint wells (but like I said, gouache dries fast).
I'm not sure if you're able to order off amazon from India, but that's where I got my HIMI gouache, and I really like them. I'm also learning gouache right now and that's what I've been using.
https://www.amazon.com/Gouache-Portable-Students-Watercolor-Painting/dp/B07D5VGGQN
I got the pink one, not sure if there's a difference between the two colour options.
Hope that helps!
There is set of 8 tubes by Talens (https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Talens-Gouache-Extra-Mixing/dp/B00FZVEVV8/ref=lp_8442689011_1_1?srs=8442689011&ie=UTF8&qid=1543638157&sr=8-1) and I have used these for the longest time and they are incredible. Very beautiful in texture and the pigments are bright and pure so they mix gorgeously and through this one set you can create a whole variety of different colors. In fact, when I started painting, I used this set to teach myself about color mixing which is a powerful knowledge to have. I cannot recommend these paints enough.