Gouache is often overlooked in painting terms and yet, it is a very practical and versatile paint in its own right.  It is extremely easy to handle and although gouache is opaque it does still reflect light, and it often becomes extremely popular with those artists who give it a try. Like any medium, the artist needs to become familiar with the idiosyncrasy of the paint, to gain maximum benefit when using. It is used often by graphic designers and illustrators because it dries so quickly and this is a real benefit.

 

1. If you wish to have a go at painting with gouache, then take a trip to your local art shop and purchase your supplies. Gouache can also be bought over the Internet from any good art stockist. There is no need to invest too much money initially as in the first instance it is more important to try out the paint and see how it feels in comparison to your more traditional medium. Buy a tube of white gouache and also one tube of each primary color and this will suffice.

 

2. Purchase some paper so that you can practice adequately, watercolor paper is probably best. Many artists use coloured paper to paint on but gouache also works well with white paper. Gouache can be used with brushes or pens and different brushes will of course create different effects.

 

3. Do not be afraid to experiment. Gouache, although very similar to traditional watercolors, also has its own look and feel to it. It is an ideal paint to take whilst travelling as the artist need only use a small amount of paint.

 

4. Drying lighter, gouache dries very quickly and is designed to be used fairly substantially but be careful of using too many layers as this can then crack.

 

5. Because gouache is water soluble, any palettes or brushes which have been used can be rinsed with water.

 

Many artists become converts to the versatile use of gouache paints as it has the ease of use such as a watercolor and yet has a bold and unique character all of its own.