20 artistFebruary 2021 http://www.painters-online.co.ukG
ouache is a water-based paint.
It contains colour, a solid
white pigment such as chalk,
a binding agent such as gum
arabic and water. It has a great, velvety
texture that absorbs light without
reflecting it, creating a very smooth,
solid appearance. The word gouache
roughly translates as ‘body colour’
or ‘opaque watercolour’. As early as
the ninth century, Persian artists were
using it for painting miniatures; in more
recent times it has been widely used
commercially for advertising, book
illustration, comics and design work.
Although similar to watercolour
in appearance, it dries with a solid,An introduction
to gouache
In the first of three articles, Robert Brindley
discusses the unique qualities of gouache and
the basic techniques you’ll need to paint a winter
landscape
matt finish and the paint becomes
absorbed into the paper surface.
Some skill is required when over-
painting gouache as it is easily
disturbed by subsequent washes and
layering, even when dry. It is mainly
used as an opaque medium and can
be used with both watercolour and
acrylic.Gouache versus watercolour
Gouache, like watercolour, is available
in small, very concentrated tubes,
or pans; both are diluted by adding
water. Although both media consist of
the same basic materials, watercolour
pigments have very small particles,enabling the paint to be spread thinly
and transparently. Gouache has larger
particles and more body, making the
paint finish matt, denser and more
opaque when dry – it dries very
quickly, making it ideal for quick, direct
painting.
Like watercolour, gouache is easily
re-wetted, which is ideal for adjusting
edges, etc, with a damp brush. If
you want to produce a spontaneous,
transparent painting, gouache is
probably not for you. However, if you
would like to experiment with mark
making, bold solid colour, texture and a
variety of other effects, you should try
gouache.Robert Brindley
is a member of the Royal Society
of Marine Artists. His book Painting
Landscapes in Oils is published by
Crowood Press (www.crowood.com) and
his four DVDs are available from Town
House Films
(www.townhousefilms.co.uk).
http://www.robertbrindley.comp Sunset, North Yorkshire Moors, gouache on Arches Not
140lb (300gsm), 6 3 71/2in (15 3 19cm)TA02p20_23_Robert Brindley.inddTA02p20_23_Robert Brindley.indd 20 20 09/12/2020 11:4909/12/2020 11: