Choosing the right brushes can make a world of difference to your gouache paintings. You can have the best paints that money can buy, but if your brushes are inadequate your art will never look its best.
When choosing gouache paint brushes, there are plenty of options available to you from synthetic brushes to natural bristles.
If you regularly paint with other mediums, such as watercolours, we’d recommend keeping your brushes separate.
Gouache paint is harder to clean from your brushes than watercolours, even though both paints are water-based.
If you only want to use one set of brushes for everything, opt for synthetic brushes and make sure you clean them thoroughly after use.
10 best brushes for gouache
1. Himi gouache brushes
These Himi brushes are specifically designed to be used with Himi gouache – a type of gouache that comes in a palette of jelly cups.
However, these brushes can be used successfully with more traditional types of gouache too.
They’re made with durable birch handles, which come in a selection of four cheerful colours. The brushes come in four different sizes, so they’ll be suitable for most of your painting needs.
The brush set is presented in a smart box, so it would make a lovely gift for the gouache artist in your life.
- Buy Himi gouache brushes in the US from Amazon
- Buy Himi gouache brushes in the UK from Amazon
2. Daler Rowney Graduate brushes
Daler Rowney is a manufacturer with a great reputation for producing quality materials and these brushes from its Graduate range are no exception.
The Graduate range is designed for beginners and art students, so it’s a good option if you’re looking for quality paint brushes at an affordable price.
- Buy Daler Rowney Graduate brushes in the UK from Amazon
3. Daler Rowney Aquafine brushes
Don’t be fooled by the name – these watercolour brushes from Daler Rowney are perfect for gouache too!
The brushes are made from synthetic and sable hairs, which hold the paint well. The set also includes a variety of brush shapes and sizes, so it’s easy to find the one you need.
As a bonus, the brushes are contained within a handy case to protect your materials in storage or on the move.
- Buy Daler Rowney Aquafine brushes in the US from Cult Pens
- Buy Daler Rowney Aquafine brushes in the UK from Amazon
4. Mont Marte detailed paint brushes
Gouache paints are fantastic for intricate paintings and illustrations. If that’s your painting style, we’d suggest investing in a set of detailed paint brushes like these ones from Mont Marte.
There are several different brush shapes to play with, including an angled spot liner for precision painting.
The brushes all have comfortable ergonomic handles, making them easy to work with.
- Buy Mont Marte detailed paint brushes in the US from Amazon
- Buy Mont Marte detailed paint brushes in the UK from Amazon
5. Pro Arte watercolour and gouache brushes
If you’re looking for high-quality brushes at an affordable price, you can’t go wrong with this brush set from Pro Arte.
The round brushes are made from soft, slightly synthetic bristles that suit both watercolour and gouache paints.
This is an excellent option for gouache artists of all levels, from beginners to professionals.
- Buy Pro Arte watercolour and gouache brushes in the UK from Amazon
How to use gouache
Gouache is a versatile medium that can be used to create gorgeous paintings and illustrations.
Learn helpful tips and tricks with Gathered’s how to use gouache guide.
6. Cass Art white synthetic brush set
For beginners and enthusiastic hobbyists, a synthetic brush set can fulfil all of your painting needs, especially if you regularly work with different mediums. Just make sure you clean the brushes thoroughly after using them.
It’s always a good idea to check out art shops’ own brand products, as these are often very high-quality and more affordable than professional art materials.
This synthetic brush set from Cass Art comes with a good mixture of brush shapes.
- Buy the Cass Art white synthetic brush set in the UK from Cass Art
7. Pro Arte Sablene brushes
These brushes from Pro Arte are made from sablene, a material that’s designed to imitate the bristles of traditional sable brushes.
While they’re primarily intended for watercolour painting, this set would also be fantastic for gouache artists.
The brushes are sturdy and well-made, so they’re unlikely to shed hairs as you paint. They’re also very soft, allowing you to apply your paint smoothly.
- Buy Pro Arte Sablene brushes in the UK from Amazon
8. Princeton Velvetouch synthetic brushes
Princeton is a US-based manufacturer of art materials, but luckily for UK readers you can still order their exquisite brushes on Amazon!
Princeton’s Velvetouch brushes are made using a blend of NextGen synthetic filaments, which makes the bristles comparable to natural equivalents.
These brushes are fabulous for gouache painting, with varied brush shapes and long-lasting bristles.
- Buy Princeton Velvetouch synthetic brushes in the US from Dick Blick
- Buy Princeton Velvetouch synthetic brushes in the UK from Amazon
9. ZenArt travel watercolour set
Take your gouache paints with you on your travels and capture your adventures using this brush set from ZenArt.
This compact set comes with four lightweight brushes that can be used for most paint mediums including gouache.
The brushes are resilient, so there’s very little shedding and when you’re finished you can stash them away in the protective eco leather case. Perfect for al fresco painting or taking with you on all of your trips!
- Buy the ZenArt travel watercolour brush set in the US from Amazon
- Buy the ZenArt travel watercolour brush set in the UK from Amazon
10. Winsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky brushes
For professional artists, Winsor & Newton’s Series 7 Kolinsky brushes are hard to beat. Like Daler Rowney, Winsor & Newton is a historic art brand with an impeccable reputation.
Kolinsky brushes are naturally springy and hold the paint well, making them ideal for gouache or watercolour paints. This set has elegant black handles, which are comfortable to hold even for long painting sessions.
This set is exclusive to Cass Art and works out cheaper than buying the brushes individually. The brushes also come in a practical black case to protect the precious bristles.
If you’re vegan, bear in mind that these brushes are made using real animal hair.
Create striking art with the best brushes for gouache
When it comes to producing stunning art, it’s important to begin with the right tools for the job. Fortunately, when it comes to choosing the best gouache paint brushes there are plenty of options to suit all budgets.
You can pick either natural or synthetic brushes for gouache, but we’d recommend keeping your gouache brushes separate from your watercolour brushes for best results.
Improve your art with the best gouache paint sets
There are so many fantastic gouache paint sets available, so how do you decide which one to buy?
We’ve made it easy for you to make your decision with Gathered’s best gouache paint guide.
