Is Gouache For Landscapes: Color worth it if you’re shopping in Drawing & Painting?
If you’ve ever stared at a landscape and felt the colors were “there” but you couldn’t quite name them, mix them, or get them onto the paper without turning into brown mud, you know the frustration. Values keep your painting structurally sound, but color is what makes the piece sing—and most tutorials either drown you in abstract color theory or skip the practical mixing steps entirely. Gouache For Landscapes: Color from Judd Mercer exists to bridge that gap: it’s a $40 video course built around small, limited-palette studies that teach you to spot, mix, and apply color with confidence. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start painting quick color studies that actually improve your studio work—or your plein air outings—this is a focused, no-fluff way to get there.
Quick answer
| Best for | Landscape painters who want a structured, hands-on path to better color mixing in gouache without wading through generic theory. |
| Skip if | You’re looking for oil or acrylic instruction, want a full-blown masterclass on values first, or prefer live in-person workshops over video. |
| Price | $40 |
| Format | 3+ hours of video instruction, live demos, exercises, and example images |
| One-line take | A tight, practical color course that turns “I can’t mix this” into repeatable, confident gouache studies. |
What you’re actually buying
At $40, you’re getting a complete color module built specifically for gouache landscape work. The core of the course is over three hours of instructional video, but the real value is in how that time is spent: Judd walks you through spotting colors in a scene, mixing them from a limited palette, and applying the paint in a way that keeps your work vibrant rather than muddy. You’ll follow along with at-home exercises designed to build muscle memory for color decisions, and you’ll watch three real-time demos where Judd paints alongside you, thinking out loud as he makes choices. That “watch someone think” element is rare in digital courses and makes a huge difference when you’re trying to internalize why a mix works. (Gouache For Landscapes: Color)
The course also includes lecture materials drawn from live workshops and example images to work from, so you’re not just watching—you’re painting. The limited-palette approach is key here: by restricting your choices, Judd forces you to understand how a small number of colors can create a wide range of hues, which is exactly the skill that separates a beginner’s muddy landscape from a confident, luminous one. One buyer captured the impact perfectly: “Judd, this was the best explanation of how to judge colors I’ve ever seen. .thank you so much for such an thorough and easy to understand tutorial” Gumroad reviews. That’s not just praise—it’s a signal that the color-judgment framework in Gouache For Landscapes: Color actually clicks for people who’ve struggled with it.
Why it’s on our radar
This course stands out because it treats color as a skill you can drill, not just a theory you can read about. The combination of live demos, limited-palette exercises, and real-world landscape examples creates a learning loop that’s hard to replicate from a book or a free YouTube video. Judd’s teaching style is fast-paced and practical, which means you’re not sitting through 45 minutes of color wheel history before you pick up a brush. The 100% refund policy also lowers the risk: if the material doesn’t match what you need, you can get your money back and leave feedback. For a painter who’s stuck in a color rut, Gouache For Landscapes: Color offers a clear, bounded path to breaking out of it.
What actually matters
Before you buy, confirm a few things to make sure this course fits your current practice: (Gouache For Landscapes: Color)
- Medium match: This is strictly a gouache course. If you paint in oils, acrylics, or watercolor, the mixing and application techniques won’t translate directly. (Gouache For Landscapes: Color)
- Prerequisites: The course assumes you have basic painting fundamentals (brush control, basic values). If you’re brand new to painting, you might want to build some value confidence first. (Gouache For Landscapes: Color)
- Time commitment: With 3+ hours of video plus exercises, plan for a few focused sessions over a week or two rather than a single marathon. (Gouache For Landscapes: Color)
- Palette readiness: You’ll need a small set of gouache tubes to follow the limited-palette exercises. If you don’t have gouache yet, factor in the cost of a basic starter set. (Gouache For Landscapes: Color)
Mid-check
If you’re ready to commit to improving your color mixing, See current options to confirm the latest pricing and any updates to the course content.
FAQ
Is this course suitable for complete beginners to painting? It’s best for painters who already have basic brush control and understand values. If you’re just starting out, you might benefit from a values-focused course first before diving into Gouache For Landscapes: Color.
Do I need to own a specific set of gouache colors? No. The course uses a limited palette, so you can follow along with a small number of standard gouache tubes. Judd will guide you on which colors to use for the exercises. (Gouache For Landscapes: Color)
Can I use this course if I paint outdoors? Yes. The course is designed to help you knock out quick color studies, which is exactly the skill you need for confident plein air painting. The principles and mixing techniques translate directly to outdoor work. (Gouache For Landscapes: Color)
What if I’m not satisfied with the course? Judd offers a 100% refund policy. If the material doesn’t meet your expectations, you can request a refund and provide feedback. (Gouache For Landscapes: Color)
Bottom line
If you’ve been struggling to mix colors that look like the landscape you’re painting, Gouache For Landscapes: Color is a focused, practical way to fix that. The combination of live demos, limited-palette exercises, and Judd’s clear, fast-paced teaching makes it a strong choice for any landscape painter who wants to move beyond muddy, uncertain color. At $40, with a full refund policy, the risk is low and the potential payoff—confident, vibrant color studies—is high.