How To Draw Like Studio Ghibli

I recently got the Himi Gouache Set (check out my review of information technology here) and painted a scene from Howl's Moving Castle with it.

I wanted to share my procedure of how I created this landscape painting using gouache paints.

I hope this inspires you to requite this painting a attempt and create art!

how to paint landscape using gouache studio ghibli

Beneath is the reference image I used from Howl's Moving Castle.

Materials Needed:

Paint (I used the Himi Gouache Set from Amazon)
Paint Brushes (I used 3 different sizes)
A cup of water for cleaning your brushes
Mixing palette (Mine came with Gouache Set)
Paper for painting (I used a sketchbook from Walmart)
Scrap paper for testing colors
Washi Record
Paper Towel

I created this painting in a sketchbook. It's actually not made for gouache, as it's just a cartoon sketchbook from Walmart, but I like how it stays flat and has many pages.

It'south too the perfect size for creating smaller paintings that can be finished quickly.

I highly recommend if you lot are are using Gouache to employ newspaper fabricated for watercolors or mixed media. They are heavier and won't get wavy when wet.

I like this one from Canson because the paper is very thick and is made specifically for watercolor awarding. I too have their mixed media one too.

Things to Remember When Painting

Your painting doesn't have to look exactly like your reference photo. It'due south easier and more fun to pigment it your own way.

Mistakes are okay. They tin can be painted over.

Exam mixed colors out on a scrap sheet.

Be conscientious of using likewise much water – Apply a newspaper towel to remove excess h2o from your brush.

Accept your time and bask the painting process!

Step 1: Record Out the Painting Surface area

Utilise washi tape to create your painting expanse (I used masking tape in this tutorial)

When we skin off the washi tape in the cease, it will leave make clean edges and it is just the almost satisfying feeling – so make sure to do it!

Washi record is the best tape for make clean removal. Y'all can notice information technology in pretty much any craft store or you tin can purchase a set like this on Amazon.

Stride 2: Paint the Horizon

Starting the painting tin exist a really intimidating part of the painting process.

Creating a light pencil sketch of the painting can help you lot be more confident in starting your painting.

For this painting, I just started by painting the horizon and the gradient behind it.

Painting the horizon is a corking place to start considering it lays the foundation for perspective and everything else in the painting.

For the first layer, I use gouache in a more watered downwardly way, similar to watercolors so that I can spread the color more than easily.

Footstep 3: Pigment the Grassy Hills

Next, I worked on the hills.

I like to generally work at the initial phase of a painting by filling in areas with color.

I don't worry also much whether it's right or wrong – It's just the initial stage and information technology will be painted over by more layers.

gouache painting landscape studio ghibli

Pace 4: Pigment the Sky and Mountains

Next, I created the mountains and painted the sky.

I painted the mountains dark-brown initially, only the stop result will exist very unlike.

I just like to go colour downwards on my painting, even if that colour isn't what I'one thousand going to stick with.

Step 5: Paint the Water

Side by side, I painted the water.

I made sure to as well comprise the cloud and grass reflection too.

I made the reflection below the grass or hills a more darker blue while the cloud reflection is a light blue.

I also painted another layer on the grass to make it more green.

The colors I used for the grass was a mixture of green (Stake Light-green in Himi Set) and yellow (Lemon Yellow in Himi Set).

Below is a photograph of my mixing palette.

Step 6: Paint the Clouds

Side by side, utilize white to paint the clouds.

Don't forget the reflection of the clouds in the h2o equally well.

Footstep seven: Paint Flowers

Start painting the flowers using the colors pink, yellow, orange, and royal.

Accept your times with this step. At that place are a lot of flowers across the hills and even along the horizon.

Flowers are all-time painted with little water. I wet my castor and dabbed information technology on a paper towel before getting more color. This makes the gouache paint more opaque.

Footstep 8: Paint Details in the Mountain

I kickoff painted the adumbral sides of the mountain using a combination of a dark blue (Ultramarine in Himi Gear up), brownish (Burnt Umber in Himi Set) and white or blackness.

The tops of the mountains were painted white to portray snow-capped mountains.

I also added some green at the base of the mountain likewise.

Here is the finished painting after much work on the mountains and lots of retouching in the h2o and grass.

Equally yous tin can come across, the mountains don't wait exactly like the mountains in the reference photograph, and that's okay. Paint even so you similar because that is what's going to make painting more fun for you!

Painting is a mixture of copying from the outer globe and creating from yourself.