Vibrant Urban Illustration with Gouache Paint
A course by Mike ThomasTravel Artist and Urban Sketcher
A course by Mike Thomas, Travel Artist and Urban Sketcher
Transform the shapes, shadows, and colors of the world around you into vibrant artwork that captures the energy of a scene using gouache paint
Gouache is a versatile material that lets you paint beautifully smooth urban scenes that burst with color. Mike Thomas is an independent freelance travel artist, illustrator, and graphic designer specializing in gouache landscape paintings. Mike has worked in the creative industry for over ten years, collaborated with brands including Bonhams Auctioneers, and exhibited his work at multiple art shows.
In this online course, Mike shows you how to paint vibrant urban illustrations with gouache. Practice the basics of working with this material and learn to channel your creative voice onto the canvas by exploring perspective, form, and color. Capture the world around you with the creative possibilities of gouache.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 14 downloads
About Gouache and Materials
1 minute, 29 seconds
The Theory of Colour
20 minutes, 25 seconds
Skies and Landscapes Basics 1
11 minutes, 56 seconds
Skies and Landscapes Basics 2
10 minutes, 17 seconds
The Sketch
8 minutes, 40 seconds
The Texture 1
17 minutes, 38 seconds
What's included in this course?
Get to know your teacher. Mike outlines his artistic journey, from his first experiences with gouache to a career in graphic design. Delve into his philosophies as an artist and his influences including Bob Ross and Vincent van Gogh.
Study the fundamentals of gouache. Identify the best paints and brushes to use, and learn to layer colors by painting silhouette landscapes. Explore color theory, create a color wheel, and blend your paints to create perfect skies and landscapes.
Use your learnings to start painting an urban storefront. Break down the scene into logical shapes and forms, sketch out your painting, and paint the first layers of your final project. Build textures and create focal points for your viewer, before personalizing your painting with details that reflect your style.
Put the finishing touches to your completed painting, then preserve your work by mounting and framing it. To wrap up the course, Mike discusses how to share your art with the world, take on commissions, and apply to be featured in galleries and exhibitions.
What is this course's project?
Paint a storefront using gouache techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who wants to improve their painting skills or learn a new style of illustration.
Requirements and materials
No previous knowledge or experience is required as you will learn Mike’s techniques from scratch.
In terms of materials, you will need paper, brushes, and a set of gouache watercolor paints to complete this course.
Reviews
- 4 months ago
gran curso, para entender los fundamentos del gouache
- 7 months ago
Love this course!! It's easy to follow.
- 9 months ago
The gouache course by Mike Thomas was enjoyable to do. He moved at a pace that was easy to follow along with. I was quite surprised my painting turned out as good as it did for attempt #1.
- 10 months ago
Really liked this corse
- 1 year ago
Really enjoyed this class. The teacher's enthusiasm is infectious. Thank you.
Since then, Mike has worked with brands including Arsenal FC and Bonhams Auctioneers, and his work has been featured at exhibitions including Royal Tunbridge Wells Art Society Summer Exhibition (2022), South East Open Art Studio (2022), and the Art Escape Exhibition (2020). Mike also shares his work with 14K followers on Instagram.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Getting to Know the Gouache
- About Gouache and Materials
- The Theory of Colour
- Skies and Landscapes Basics 1
- Skies and Landscapes Basics 2
- U3
Shopfront Artwork
- Choosing the Reference
- The Sketch
- Blocking In with Colour
- The Texture 1
- The Texture 2
- Adding Details 1
- Adding Details 2
- Adding Details 3
- U4
What’s Next!
- Framing Options
- Sharing Your Artwork
- FP
Final project
- Vibrant Urban Illustration with Gouache Paint
What to expect from a Domestika course
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Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners with step-by-step lessons on sketching, urban scenes, and painting with gouache, making it accessible even if you have no prior experience.
You’ll need a sketchbook, mechanical pencil, pen, gouache paints, brushes, ceramic palette, masking tape, watercolor paper, and correction fluid. A sharpie and reference photos of urban scenes are also recommended.
You’ll learn how to sketch urban landscapes, mix and layer gouache, create vibrant textures, capture light, use references, and master composition and color theory for dynamic cityscape paintings.
No prior painting experience is required. The course is structured for absolute beginners, guiding you through all techniques and materials from the basics.
The course teaches you how to select and gather reference photos from everyday urban scenes, shopfronts, and travel inspiration to inform your sketches and paintings.
Yes, you’ll learn to create a gouache color wheel, mix primary, secondary, and muted colors, and apply color theory to enhance your urban paintings.
You’ll practice layering paint, using different brush types, complementary colors, flat brush blending, and mark-making to add realistic texture and depth to your artwork.