# Best Gouache for Calligraphy and Custom Ink Mixing Source: https://calligraphynest.com/best/best-gouache-for-calligraphy Updated: 2026-09-15 Publisher: Calligraphy Nest. Our score is an editorial rating out of 10 (fit 35%, features 25%, build 20%, value 20%), not a customer rating. Method: https://calligraphynest.com/how-we-research#our-score Ask working calligraphers what is really in their ink jar and the answer is often gouache. Mixed with water to the consistency of heavy cream, this opaque watercolor becomes a custom ink in any color you can imagine, matched exactly to a wedding palette or brand guide. It covers well on dark paper, flows smoothly from a pointed pen, and costs far less per project than specialty inks. Not every brand behaves the same, though: pigment load, binder, and how a formula re-wets all affect line quality. This guide compares the gouache sets and single tubes best suited to lettering, plus mixing ratios, storage tips, and common consistency mistakes to avoid. ## Picks ### 1. Winsor & Newton Designers' Gouache Introductory 10-Tube Paint Set, 14ml Our score: 8.6/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10) Winsor & Newton Designers' Gouache introductory set of 10 tubes at 14ml, a broad starter palette for colored lettering. Pros: - Ten tubes cover primaries plus extras for easier color mixing - Designers' Gouache is a favorite for opaque dip pen lettering - Introductory set is a cost-effective way into professional gouache Cons: - Colors are set by the kit, so some favorite shades may be missing - Paint can dry in the tube caps if not closed tightly Details: https://calligraphynest.com/product/B000NB2IDS ### 2. Holbein Artist Gouache Set of 24 G715 - 24 x 15ml Tubes Our score: 8.5/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 10/10 · Value 7/10) Holbein Artist Gouache set of 24 in 15ml tubes, a large professional palette for custom calligraphy colors. Pros: - Twenty-four premium colors reduce the need to mix every shade from scratch - Holbein gouache is prized for smooth, velvety, opaque coverage - A long-term investment set for serious lettering and illustration Cons: - High upfront cost is hard to justify for occasional colored lettering - Large set can include shades a calligrapher rarely uses Details: https://calligraphynest.com/product/B0756TZLWF ### 3. Winsor & Newton Designers' Gouache Primary Color 6-Tube Paint Set, 14ml Our score: 8.2/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10) Winsor & Newton Designers' Gouache primary color set of 6 tubes at 14ml, for mixing custom calligraphy ink colors. Pros: - Primary colors let you mix almost any shade to match wedding palettes - Opaque gouache gives flat, even color that scans and prints well - Professional-grade pigments from a respected art brand Cons: - Mixing exact colors takes practice and some trial and error - Six-tube set is a small starting range for broad color mixing Details: https://calligraphynest.com/product/B001MQ0T7K ### 4. Winsor & Newton Designer's Gouache, 14 ml (0.47oz) Tube, Permanent White Our score: 8.1/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10) Winsor & Newton Designer's Gouache in Permanent White, a 14 ml (0.47oz) tube for mixing opaque white calligraphy ink. Pros: - Highly opaque white makes bright lettering on black and dark papers - Mix with water to the right consistency for dip nibs or brushes - Tube format keeps paint fresh longer than open jars Cons: - Needs mixing each session, unlike ready-to-use bottled white ink - Small 14 ml tube runs out fast for bulk envelope work Details: https://calligraphynest.com/product/B004ZHS5ZQ ### 5. Holbein Artists Gouache 15ml Primary White Our score: 7.9/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10) Holbein Artists Gouache in Primary White, a 15ml tube of smooth opaque white for pointed pen and brush lettering. Pros: - Finely ground Holbein pigment mixes smoothly for clean nib flow - Bright opaque white for lettering on dark cardstock and envelopes - Slightly larger tube than many competitors for similar use Cons: - Premium Japanese gouache costs more than student-grade whites - Must be mixed with water and gum arabic tweaks can take practice Details: https://calligraphynest.com/product/B009ONVO54 ### 6. Holbein Artists' Gouache 15 ml Tube - Permanent White Our score: 7.9/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10) Holbein Artists' Gouache in Permanent White, a 15 ml tube of lightfast opaque white for lasting calligraphy. Pros: - Permanent White is lightfast, so framed pieces stay bright over time - Holbein quality gives creamy consistency that thins evenly - Excellent for crisp white hairlines on navy and black stock Cons: - Costs more than bottled white inks for everyday practice - Can dry to a slightly chalky surface if mixed too thick Details: https://calligraphynest.com/product/B004ZUES9U ### 7. ARTEZA Gouache Paint, Set of 24, 12ml Gouache Paint Tubes Our score: 7.5/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10) ARTEZA gouache paint set of 24 in 12ml tubes, an affordable way to build a colorful palette for lettering. Pros: - Twenty-four tube colors give wide range at a student-friendly price - Tube format stores well and is easy to squeeze small amounts - Good for practicing colored pointed pen before buying premium paint Cons: - Pigment load is lower than Winsor & Newton or Holbein gouache - Some colors may streak when thinned for fine nibs Details: https://calligraphynest.com/product/B077Y6TVC8 ### 8. HIMI Gouache Paint Set, 24 Colors x 1 oz, Jelly Cup, Non-Toxic (Green) Our score: 7.2/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10) HIMI gouache paint set with 24 colors in 1 oz jelly cups, non-toxic and a playful budget option for colored lettering. Pros: - Twenty-four colors in jelly cups are easy to open and scoop from - Non-toxic paint suits family craft time and beginner lettering - Low price makes it simple to experiment with bright ink mixes Cons: - Jelly-style gouache is thicker and needs careful thinning for nibs - Opacity and smoothness fall short of artist-grade tube gouache Details: https://calligraphynest.com/product/B086X11M6B As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.