|
Gouache
Gouache(from
the Italian guazzo, "water paint, splash") is
a type of paint consisting of pigment suspended in water.
Gouache differs from watercolour in that the particles are
larger, the ratio of pigment to water is much higher, and
the presence of an inert white pigment such as chalk. This
makes gouache heavier and more opaque, with greater reflective
qualities.
History
Guazzo
was originally a term applied to the early sixteenth century
practice of applying oil paint over a tempera base. The
term was applied to the watermedia in the eighteenth century
in France, although the technique is considerably older.
It was used as early as the 12th century in Islamic art
and as early as the 14th century in Europe.
Application
Gouache dries slightly lighter than it appears when wet,
which can make it difficult to match colors over multiple
painting sessions. This, combined with its quick coverage
and total hiding power, mean that gouache lends itself to
more immediate techniques than watercolour. En plein air
paintings take advantage of this, as do works by J.M.W.
Turner.
Modern applications of gouache depend upon these qualities
for pragmatic, rather than aesthetic reasons. Most 20th
Century animations used it create an opaque color on a cell
with watercolor paint used for backgrounds, and gouache
as "poster paint" is desirable for its speed and
durability.
|