Gouache Paint

What is gouache made from and how is it different from watercolours?

Gouache is made from finely ground pigment which is mixed with distilled water and bound with usually gum Arabic The Inclusion of an inert white pigment-normally blanc fixe or precipitated chalk give gouache its opaque quality and also greater vibrancy.

Other than the white inert pigment two other most important components are the binder and the colour pigment. Gum is used

Pigments are either natural or artificial and some of these pigments fade with time. Difference in pigments include:

• Some colours fade
• some colours are more opaque than others
• A few are totally transparent
• they differ in staining qualities

Paint mostly comes in tubes which can be bought separately but all major manufacturers also sell sets which are a better value for money. If you are just starting buy an introductory set which will contain about 10 colours from which most of the spectrum can be met.

Some of the well known brand names are:

• Daler-Rowney Designers' Gouache
• Holbein Artists' Gouache
• M. Graham Gouache
• Maimeri Gouache
• Pelikan Watercolor and Gouache Paint Sets
• Schmincke Horadam Gouache
• Winsor & Newton Designer's Gouache

To learn more about gouache painting we have gatheredidentified a some good resources by leading writers on the subject. See our list of books on how to paint with gouache or check out the techniques of painting with Gouache.