Easy Gouache Polaroid Paintings: Palm-Leaf Inspired Beach Scenes

If you’ve been looking for a fun way to practice gouache, these mini Polaroid-style beach paintings are the perfect project. Each one is quick, beginner-friendly, and focuses on blending skies with simple palm leaf silhouettes. We’ll walk through two versions:

1. Midnight Palm Beach – a dreamy mix of midnight blue and hot pink

2. Sunset Glow Palms – warm tones of yellow, orange, and soft pink

   
   

Both of these tutorials use the Brustro Gouache 12-Color Set (read my full Brustro gouache review here), and they’re designed to help you build confidence with gradients, layering, and simple silhouette details.

If you prefer to paint along, I’ve also shared a full YouTube tutorial where I demo both Polaroid paintings step by step — you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/DwdJFATPmOk

Polaroid A — Midnight Palm Beach (deep blue + pink sky)

Goal: dreamy tropical night sky with silhouetted palm leaves.

1. Sky gradient

   • Start with a wash of midnight blue (cerulean + a touch of black) at the top.

   • Blend downward into a vibrant pink near the horizon.

   • Add white to blend the two colors

2. Ocean reflection

   • Mirror the same colors in the water below, using pink in the middle and blue along the edges

3. Silhouettes

   • With a fine round brush and black gouache, paint curved palm fronds arching in from the corners, framing the sky.

   • Vary the thickness of the leaf stems for a natural look

   • Add The Bottom Line for the waves shadow and a rough mountain along the horizon

4. Final highlights

   • Use a touch of white gouache to dot along the waves

   • Optional: lift a thin reflection line across the ocean with a damp brush for shimmer.

     
     

     

   
   

   Polaroid B — Sunset Glow Palms (yellow, Peach + pink sky)

   Goal: warm glowing sunset framed by palm silhouettes.

   1. Sky layers

      • Begin at the horizon with a soft Soft Pink.

      • Blend downward into pale Yellow, then fade into White at the botton.

      • Keep the brush horizontal for smooth gradations.

      • Use Soft Pink clouds along the bottom

   2. Ocean base

      • Paint the sea with pale Yellow along the middle and soft pink along the sea edges.

      • Leave lighter streaks beneath the horizon to mimic the sun’s glow.

   3. Sea Reflections

      • Use thin Purple ( Mix of Prussian Blue, Vermillion and White ) lines along the sea

   4. Palm leaf Silhouette

      • Along the Right Side , paint bold black palm fronds Falling downwards

      • Add some rocks below for some contrast

   

   
   

By the end, you’ll have two finished Polaroid minis that capture the mood of the beach — perfect for your sketchbook, gifts, or even a relaxing weekend project.