(Underwater) Adventures in Gouache

If you’ve been following my work for a while, you know I usually paint with acrylics, layering transparent glazes to build depth, light, and atmosphere. Acrylics let me bring the underwater world’s colors to life in rich, complex ways. But sometimes, you just need to shake things up—step outside your comfort zone and see what happens. Lately, that’s meant trying something new: gouache.

Why now? Well, I’m traveling, and packing my full acrylic setup wasn’t realistic. I needed something lightweight and portable—something that would let me keep painting without a studio. Gouache felt like the perfect choice. As I revisited memories of the Red Sea, I started creating small studies inspired by the haunting wreck of the Thistlegorm and the region’s vibrant coral walls.

At first, painting with gouache felt completely different. It dries fast—really fast—which took some getting used to! It’s also more fluid than acrylics, which makes blending smooth and intuitive, but it has a velvety, matte finish instead of that glossy depth I’m used to. Once I got the hang of it, I started to love how it captures atmosphere in a completely different way.

And here’s something I didn’t expect—I kept thinking about all the artists before me who used gouache. This medium has been around for centuries, going all the way back to ancient Egypt. Renaissance artists like Albrecht Dürer worked with it too, long before acrylics were even a thing. I love that connection to history—it’s like I’m tapping into something timeless while exploring something new.

For my first gouache pieces, I focused on the Thistlegorm—its skeletal remains alive with stories, resting on the seabed like an underwater time capsule. I also painted the Red Sea’s dramatic coral walls, where bursts of color seem to glow even in the deep. Without my usual layering techniques, I had to approach these scenes differently, simplifying and blending in a way that felt both challenging and refreshing. And that’s the best part—learning, adapting, and seeing where it takes me.

Sometimes, stepping into the unknown is what keeps creativity alive. Whether I’m painting in my studio or on the road, I love finding new ways to capture the underwater world. Gouache is just another way to dive in.

Curious to see these new works come to life? Follow along on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to share this journey with you!