Gouache

"Friends in Tall Grasses"
Gouache, 5 x 7
(c) Lori Putnam

Not too many years ago, I had never heard of gouache, much less known how to paint with it, or even how to pronounce it. (Hint: rhymes with "squash"). But lately I have been experimenting with gouache--a new medium for me.

Gouache on Illustration Board
(c) Mike Hernandez

What is gouache, exactly? It is a water-based pigment, in the family of watercolors. In fact, the work "gouache" comes from the Italian word "guazzo", which means "water color". But unlike traditional watercolor paints, which are transparent, gouache is opaque.  That means that you can layer it, and paint over it to make corrections. In my book, that makes gouache more forgiving than watercolor, and more like the oil paints I love to work with.

"The Scarlet Sunset"
Gouache and Watercolor on Paper
J. M. W. Turner, c. 1830-1840

So why have I decided to try this new medium? As faithful readers know, I love to travel, and I hope that gouache will be easy to take on the road. Since it cleans up with water, there's no need to deal with turpentine or other solvents. Nor do you need to use a medium with the gouache paint--it can be thinned. And you can paint with it on watercolor paper, which is far more lightweight and easier to carry than canvas. In addition, gouache dries in a matter of minutes, not days. All of these are big marks in the plus column for travelers!

Gouache travel kit

Sometimes when I travel, painting is the primary part of the agenda. In that case, I invest the time and suitcase space to carry all the gear involved in oil painting. Other times, a trip may be more of a vacation. That's when I'm hoping that the gouache will come in handy.  Perhaps it will allow me to do a quick study, or even a finished painting, without the hassles of the oil painting accoutrements. We shall see. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying working with the gouache because of its fluidity and its soft matte finish. 

Gouache on Illustration Board
(c) Mike Hernandez

I'm illustrating this post with images of gouache paintings by other painters--some current, and some old masters. These beautiful paintings go to show that this medium doesn't limit you at all. Can't wait to see what I can do with it. Last photo is from my own sketchbook...just practicing by revising some sketches from last summer!