Gouache and watercolors are like sisters and brothers.
In a way, you can say that gouache is like the strong brother and watercolor is the intelligent pretty sister. While gouache is up for some action, watercolor wants to flirt in the old fashion way. Although they are both water-based, after you have had a look at them, you can see that both have individual characteristics that make them easy to tell apart.
The main difference between the composition of the two paints is that gouache is opaque and covers the paper with any color, whereas watercolor is transparent and the light is able to move through the pigment and reflect off the paper underneath, giving it a luminous characteristic that differs from gouache’s matt velvet finish.
The first thing you may notice is that gouache is opaque and that it flows less than watercolor. You will get a beautiful flat wash of color. Because it dries so quickly, gouache is perfect for play, for expressionistic and direct paintings. However you can’t apply gouache too thick, or the paint will crack and crumble.
Gouache is very forgiving, If you make mistakes or even change your mind, by rewetting gouache, you can reactivate the paint and make changes. This can be a blessing.
7 great reasons to use Gouache!
+ Opaque
+ Dries quickly
+ Cheaper than watercolor
+ Forgiving medium
+ You can rewet and rework it
+ You can mix gouache paints with watercolor
+ Gives beautiful flat washes
What You Need to Get Started With Gouache
Getting started with gouache is very simple if you have watercolor materials from before. Just get a set of gouache paints and bring out your watercolors stuff. You can use the same papers, brushes, mixing tray and all those things for both.
If you are just getting started, you can find lots of advice on how to choose paper, brushes paints, etc in my earlier blogs.
You can get really far with a gouache set of the primary colors, and black and white. The sets often have a good price. I just started out with black and had fun when making drawings. The colors comes in tubs and pans. I love them “fresh” from the tubs.
Gouache works perfect on watercolor paper, but some thick drawing paper will do too. For paint brushes you can use all of your watercolor brushes.
Then, you’ll be ready to get started.
I don’t know about you these days, but I have more time at home to spend in my creative laboratories. We will have many opportunities this spring to go crazy, exploring art and why not make some big beautiful messes.
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If you like this and want to know more about watercolor and art, I am holding some painting retreats in Vence on the Cote dÀzure in France in Mai and October 2021 and you can take my online class on drawing faces.
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