Arts and entertainment

How is gouache different from watercolor? Interesting Facts

Surely everyone, as a child, drew in kindergarten and in labor lessons with brushes on a white sheet, because the words “gouache” and “watercolor” are familiar to absolutely everyone, regardless of the acquired profession in the future.

But before you find out how gouache differs from watercolor, it’s worth understanding both concepts.

Who are they?

Gouache comes from Italian word guazzo and translated means “water paint”. It is one of the types of artificial paints, the ability of which is to dissolve in water.

Watercolor means “watery” in French. It belongs to adhesive (binding components - dextrin with gum arabic) paints, the solvent of which is water.

Differences

Perhaps the main difference is the following:

• gouache has a denser, matte and generally opaque layer;
• watercolor is valued for its transparency, purity, softness and thinness of the layer.

In use:

• watercolor is used only on paper;
• For gouache, the basis is not only paper, but also harder surfaces, such as fabric, cardboard or crafts made from salt dough.

Properties:

• watercolor is very practical and convenient in the work process, since due to its peculiarity you can easily correct and correct defects even with the help of a wet cotton wool;
• Gouache is much more difficult to remove due to its denser texture.

Structure:

• When drying, the gouache becomes not glossy, but, on the contrary, with a matte tint and lighter than the initial stroke. This process occurs thanks to the white contained in the composition. And this is its huge advantage: due to an error, a dark color can be corrected by applying paint several tones lighter.
• This process is not possible with watercolors. It will either mix both colors in itself, or cover one with the other.

• in gouache you can create many shades using white;
• in watercolor White color is missing, it is replaced with the paper itself, leaving a gap on it.

Worth knowing:

• if you are just starting to get acquainted with fine arts, then you should start with watercolor, since it is easier to manage and much easier to remove mistakes.

Video on the topic

Acrylic

Acrylic paint contains acrylic and resins. They apply fairly evenly and dry quickly.

How is gouache different from acrylic paints?

• Acrylic does not fade and retains its original color perfectly.
• Acrylic does not crumble after a while, either from paper or from other substrates.
• After drying, the paints darken.
• Acrylic is suitable for painting in watercolor style.

Bottom line

The choice for both beginning artists and professionals is very large.

Now you know how gouache differs from watercolor and acrylic, and with the help of which paints to bring your inspiration into the artistic light, it’s up to you to decide.

11.10.2017 19:17 3422

Many of you love to paint. Some people like watercolors, others like gouache. But how does gouache differ from watercolor? Let's find out.

Watercolor has a watery base. Therefore, the name of this paint includes the word “aqua”, which means water. When dried, watercolor retains its color. It gives the drawings softer and more transparent tones. If such paint is applied to a slightly wet sheet of paper, it will spread and mix in colors. This can result in an unusual and effective design.

Gouache has a denser texture. Unlike watercolors, it does not spread and the drawings are clear. When it dries, it becomes matte and its shade becomes lighter, since gouache contains white. Thanks to this feature, you can correct a mistake on gouache by applying dark color lighter. WITH watercolor paints It won't work that way.
From this comparison we can conclude that gouache is better suited for creating large posters or posters, and watercolor is better suited for creative activities.

It should be remembered that if you apply gouache in a very thick layer, then when it dries, a crack may appear on it.

Another interesting difference is that in watercolor there is no white color, but in gouache there is. Therefore, to give a painting a white color in watercolor, artists simply leave an unpainted area on white paper.

If you want to place an order for Jacksons, I wrote a detailed how to do this. By registering using the links from there you will receive a 10% discount on your first order.

I would like to immediately point out that my gouache has a regular green box without streaks, I looked on ebay and there are two options there - a green box and a box with brush strokes, also green, made of thin cardboard. I tried to find out how they differ and I have suspicions that the second option is cheaper and from the amateur school series, although the colors are still the same.

Also on Ebay there is a Japanesque series with more natural colors and an original palette. This is a special edition and it differs from mine in color shades, but it is the same gouache from the same manufacturer.

The main feature of this gouache is that it is a hybrid material, something between acrylic and gouache, combining the matteness of gouache and the quick drying of acrylic.

The first impression is wonderful, although the box is cardboard, it is very convenient, dense and weighty, made of pleasant materials. Inside there are large plastic tubes of 20 ml each and here I also have no complaints, on the contrary, I wish that all manufacturers take note. The tube conveniently shows the name of the color, the included pigments and an approximate swatch (well, of course, on plastic it will not correspond to the real color). A very convenient lid, this is exactly the sore spot of many tubes. Western comrades say that plastic is bad, air gets into the tube and the gouache dries, but I can’t say anything about this yet, because it takes time and comparison with a metal tube. By the way, I found a picture with tubes on the Internet different sizes from the largest to the smallest, but I myself have not encountered such diversity.

The colors are amazing, perfect for illustrations. The paints are declared rather as decorative; they can be used to paint on almost any surface, having previously degreased it - glass, metal, plastic, canvas, paper, and so on. Once dry, gouache is waterproof and allows you to reapply without smearing the bottom layer, which is what makes it so cool, unlike regular gouache.

This gouache differs from acrylic in its matte surface and more even opaque coating. Here is an excellent photo demonstrating the difference between acrylic gouache, regular gouache and acrylic; as you can see, acrylic still shines through more when glazed.

And just like acrylic, this gouache dries very quickly, literally within a few minutes, which is convenient for drawing and not very convenient when squeezing paint onto the palette. A wet palette, like for acrylic, saves the situation a little.

My coloring is white, the last square is correspondingly white. It's a shame that Opera Red looks so dull, it's actually a fluorescent crazy pink. You can also clearly see what happens when you try to blur the colors - a layer that dries too quickly appears as a sloppy edge under the transparent fill.

My first experiment, I deliberately upload a large picture so that all the mistakes that may arise can be seen, for example, what translucent layers look like compared to regular ones. The picture has approximately 3-4 layers on top of each other.

So, according to tradition, the advantages:

• Delightful texture, matte, not erased and not crumbling after drying, suitable for further development with anything, including pencils. Gouache itself is combined with watercolor and acrylic, possibly tempera, although the packaging contains a recommendation not to mix paints inconsistently with other types of paints and with oil.
• Excellent bright palette, the presence of fluorescent, pearlescent, pastel lines, as many as 221 colors.
• The colors mix well with each other.
• Quick drying and even coverage.
• Suitable for different surfaces.
• Quite economical, and the tubes big size.
• Suitable for any, more or less thick paper.
• It doesn’t damage the brushes, it can be washed with warm water and soap, although I couldn’t wash it off the plastic palette, no matter how hard I tried.

• This is studio material - the box is not suitable for carrying around, the way of working requires time, palette and space.
• Quick drying of paint on the palette.
• When squeezing out, a slight menthol-like odor is felt, I don’t think this is very critical, but you need to report it, after the paint dries, the smell completely disappears.
• This gouache looks best in a pasty, opaque technique; when adding too much water, unsightly stains appear and the previous layer has dried instantly.
• Some paints are multi-pigment, for example all blue composite.
• No instructions on light fastness and full dyeing of all colors - only for a fee in Jacksons.
• In Russian stores it is very expensive (4-5 thousand rubles) and in general is not available everywhere.
• The palette is too vigorous for naturalistic works - the solution is to buy tubes separately for yourself, or constantly mix everything with everything.

In the section on the question: What is the difference between watercolor and gouache? given by the author Separate yourself the best answer is depending on the purpose, watercolor gives soft pastel tones. Gouache, as a rule, gives sharp poster shades.
depending on what you need the paint for!
If we say to draw a poster, then use gouache, acrylic, gel with glitter....
if you paint over something (depending on what)... maybe flomik will do... (there are those.. who paint on everything)
if you just draw something... then instead of watercolors you can use watercolor pencils... or draw with pastels... or something else....

Answer from electric welding[newbie]
Watercolor has more pastel, delicate or soft tones. Gouache is harder, more saturated and the colors are mostly dark.
The gouache is cracking.
Thanks to watercolors, you can achieve any shade saturation. As far as I know, you won’t do this in gouache.
Well, based on my personal feeling, it’s more convenient to draw watts))

Answer from User deleted[active]
Gouache is thick, and watercolor is blurry. Better gouache

Answer from European[guru]
It all depends on what you need to draw. If it’s a poster, you can’t do without gouache; if it’s a drawing, it’s better to use watercolor.

Answer from Stas Babush[master]
In general, gouache is considered not very useful.
But the difference when drawing is that the gouache is laid down in a rather dense layer, that is, the top layer sets the color of the drawing. When painting with watercolors, the drawing is created more airy, but each layer applied sets its own shade.
I advise you to try it and decide for yourself.
Personally, I prefer watercolor

Answer from JaNa[newbie]
What's the best? Depends on a person. Watercolors produce lighter, more transparent and blurry pictures, while gouache produces richer and darker ones.

Most of us are accustomed to treating gouache somewhat dismissively. It is believed that this material is suitable only for design work and children's creativity, but it cannot be considered as a serious material for painting.

Knights gouache

However, in the Middle Ages, in Europe, this material was widely used in painting miniatures, and not just for preparatory sketch work. In Russia, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, serious works were painted in gouache easel painting. It was during this period that gouache flourished.

Artists who have mastered this “frivolous” material to perfection create wonderful, elegant, uniquely velvety works. It is especially remarkable, with the help of gouache, to convey the unique atmosphere of evening twilight and foggy pre-dawn landscapes.
Basically, gouache is an opaque watercolor. To work with gouache, there is no need for special thinners and drying accelerators, as when working with oil. When painting with gouache, there is no need to think about various auxiliary means (such as drying retardants, modeling pastes, varnishes, etc.). Gouache is a universal artistic material that allows you, having paints, water and paper, to master artistic techniques characteristic of other materials. You can paint with highly diluted gouache using the watercolor technique, or you can master the writing techniques inherent in noble oil. Painting with gouache is comfortable, it does not have an unpleasant odor, does not require working with solvents, allows you to easily make changes to the drawing and does not require any special surface for painting (canvases, primers, etc.). That is why it is very popular in children's art and is widely used by beginning artists. Each of us painted the landscape in gouache. Gouache for beginners is also suitable for professionals.

squirrel gouache

There are several types of gouache: art, poster, acrylic and for children's creativity.

Types of gouache.

. Artistic gouache- These are ground pigments with the addition of distilled water, white and gum arabic. This gouache has excellent covering power, matte, velvety and fits perfectly on the artistic surface. For this type of paint, uncoated cardboard, watercolor paper, and tinted paper are ideal as a working surface. The first layer of paint is absorbed into the art surface, creating something similar to a primer. This allows the paint to adhere better to the work surface.
. Poster gouache It is a regular gouache, with the only exception that kaolin is used instead of white. This makes the paint brighter and denser.
. Gouache for children's creativity contains cheap PVA glue instead of expensive gum arabic. This makes the paint less flexible and it dries faster. However, this makes it more resistant to shedding and abrasion. This paint is suitable not only for paper, but also for plywood, ceramics and canvas, which does not need to be primed with a special primer (as is the case with artistic gouache). PVA in gouache becomes an excellent fixative and successfully replaces special primer. Children's gouache drawings delight the eyes and hearts of parents.
. Some manufacturers, with the advent of artistic acrylic, began to produce acrylic gouache. This gouache is suitable for painting any surface, and after complete drying it is not washed off with water.

Fairytale dragon castle in gouache

Properties of gouache and color features.

Many people consider gouache not convenient for drawing. If you have previously painted primarily with watercolors, then you only need to remember a few rules to get the same wonderful results when working with gouache.

Gouache paint is not transparent and contains white. This means that you need to write from dark to light, and not vice versa. That is, having decided on the composition and color scheme, you need to start with darker paint tones, and highlights and dark color accents are placed at the end of the work.

In order not to get confused about the possibility of mixing colors and shades, and also not to mess up the color for the shadows, it is better to have an idea about color wheel, which is used by artists. Colors lying in adjacent sectors of the circle are mixed with each other without the formation of dirt, and for shadows it is better to take a color from the opposite sector. This color is added in the required quantity to the main tone. More often, to depict shadows, they take: blue, green or purple. Under no circumstances should you add black color to the shadow image. You also cannot use black to obtain a darker tone of the same color; you will not darken the tone, but you will get dirt.

Among other things, you should know that gouache dries quite quickly. If you make a mistake, you cannot correct it until the gouache has dried. If you break this rule, you will end up with a smeared, dirty stain. You need to make changes and corrections to the drawing until the gouache layer has completely dried. Typically, drying time depends on the thickness of the gouache layer, it varies from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Once the gouache has dried, it is very easy to make changes. You just need to moisten the brush in warm, pigment-free water, lightly wring it out with a dry cloth and lightly wipe off the paint in the area where the mistake was made. In the same way, you can shade an overly clear outline of a drawn object.

When mixing colors, you need to take into account that wet gouache is brighter. When it dries, it becomes white due to the presence of chalk in it. Therefore, you should always choose colors that are more saturated than those that you want to see in the final work.

gouache horse

Gouache brushes and brush stroke techniques.

Right choice brushes will also help facilitate familiarization with this artistic material. Since gouache is heavier and more viscous, overly soft brushes are not suitable for it, so it is better to put the light squirrel aside. The following materials are good for wet gouache: kolinsky, goat and synthetics. These brushes are great for shading, backgrounds and fills, that is, for working with a wet brush.

There are painting techniques that are suitable for working with a dry brush. How to draw gouache images of tree crowns, grass backgrounds, objects with an uneven or textured surface? In this case, it is better to use bristle brushes. The shape of the brushes will depend on the shape of the strokes. It is better to depict grass with flat brushes, and the crown of trees with round brushes. In this case, apply gouache diluted to the thickness of sour cream onto a dry pork bristle brush and make point blows with the brush on the working surface of the painting. This can be compared to putting paint on work surface.

How to paint with gouache not only with brushes. You can apply paint using foam sponge, special rollers or crumpled paper napkin. All this allows you to depict objects with a complex surface structure and achieve realistic depictions of many materials, such as rough ceramics or stone, or when painting a still life with gouache.

still life gouache

Painting techniques using gouache. Gouache lessons.

There are two ways to create a background for gouache:
. Uniformly filling in the contours of a pencil sketch. First the artist does pencil sketch on the artistic surface, and then spreads the primary colors as fills in the contours of the drawing. It is important to remember here that for the initial underpainting, the darkest tones of the drawing elements are taken. In order for the gouache to lay smoothly and without streaks, you need to pay attention to the size of the brush. The larger the contour being painted, the larger the brush should be. Gouache, in this case, should be diluted to the consistency of thin sour cream. You shouldn’t put too much pigment on your brush either; it’s better to wipe off the excess on the edge of the palette. You need to fill the contour without pressure, from one edge to the center, and then from the center to the other edge of the contour. This type of underpainting is not suitable for large surfaces.
. For large surfaces, another type of painting is chosen - filling. In this case, first the background of the drawing is made, and then, on the dried background, the work itself is written. The background can consist of two or three primary colors in the gamut of the pattern. For example, when painting a landscape, they take: the color of the sky, the color of the earth, the color for the light stripe above the horizon. The sheet of paper is well attached to the tablet; it is better to glue all the edges with masking tape. Then the colors are distributed: the color of the sky at the top, the color of the earth below, the lightest in the horizon area. And then, until the paint has dried, smooth the paint using a wide, damp brush. The brush must be drawn without interruption, from one left edge of the sheet to the right, moving from the bottom of the work to the top. Then we wet the brush in water, shake off the excess, and smooth the paint from the top of the sheet to the bottom, moving the brush horizontally. In order for the background to be smooth and beautiful, training is needed. However, the result is worth the effort. When the background is smoothed out and the paint has not yet dried, the details of the hills are spread out with the darker paint chosen for the ground. After the main background and the formed landscape details have dried, vegetation, clouds and other details of the intended composition are painted.

gouache flower

Gouache paintings. Gouache painting techniques include:
. Glaze- a method that involves applying transparent layers of other tones on top of the main color. By covering the base color with translucent layers, a new deep shade is obtained. For gouache this method is available in the same way as for watercolor. You just need to dilute the gouache quite heavily with water so that it becomes transparent. Using the glazing technique, you can create a unique fog effect; gouache is perfect for this.
. Pastose technique gouache is also available. This technique involves applying thick, opaque paint to the work surface. This technique is mainly used oil painting. Texture, light and shadow in paintings painted using the impasto technique depend not only on the color, but also on the shape and direction of the strokes applied. Gouache can also be used in this style, especially if it is PVA-based or acrylic. When working in the impasto technique and using ordinary artistic gouache, you need to remember that too thick a layer of this paint tends to crack and crumble after drying. Therefore, you need to very carefully add layers of thick gouache to the canvas in order to obtain the “golden mean” necessary for this technique and material.
. There is another technique in which you can use gouache. It is called sgraffito. This technique is similar to engraving. A layer is applied to the paper light paint and wait for it to dry. Then a thick, even layer of dark paint is applied. After the top layer has dried, take a drawing pen, a stylus, just a thick needle or a stationery knife, and paint with them, removing the dark layer of paint from the lower light layer. It is better that the top coat of paint is dry, but fresh enough so that the paint does not fall off. You need to act carefully, movements must be precise.
. In addition, gouache is perfectly used in mixed media painting. For example, the background is made with gouache, and the drawing on the background is made with acrylic. Flowers made with gouache and acrylic are very impressive.

gouache sketch of a girl

Caring for tools when working with gouache.

You need to remember about the property of gouache to clog the bristles of soft brushes, so it is better to wash the brushes immediately in a jar with big amount warm water. To do this, you need to thoroughly rinse the brush, moving the bristles along the bottom of the container with water.

After finishing working with gouache, you need to rinse your brushes under warm running water. You also need to wash palettes with remaining paint, since dried gouache can paint over the palette, especially if it is plastic. Gouache dries very quickly, so all paint jars must be tightly closed. If you leave unclosed jars of paint after work, you risk finding there instead of soft, plastic gouache, fossilized pieces of dried pigment.

In addition, you need to monitor the condition of your paints. Gouache tends to thicken over time, even if you remember to cover it. This property of this material may cause it to dry out completely. You can return the original quality to the drying material by dropping half a teaspoon of hot boiled water into the paint (this is enough for a standard small jar). Then the gouache should be closed and left for 30 minutes, after which it should be thoroughly mixed with a stick or the opposite end of a brush.

If your gouache has dried to the point of stone, you can try to revive it, but this does not always work. To do this, you need to pour a little into each jar. hot water, so as to cover the surface of the dried paint only a couple of millimeters, and then put it in a warm place for three hours. In winter, a battery is suitable for this, and in summer, a sunny window sill is suitable. Then you need to mix the pigment thoroughly. If dried pieces still remain, you can try repeating the procedure described above. If this doesn’t help, then it’s all over with your paint and you can only throw it away. True, it can be used as a dry watercolor for sketches and rough sketches. Dried acrylic gouache cannot be revived; it turns into an insoluble, hard polymer.

I wish you creative success in working with gouache!