What, might you ask, is gouache? (It rhymes with "squash"). It is a water based pigment, in the family of watercolors. But unlike traditional watercolors, which are transparent, gouache is opaque. Because it is opaque, it allows you to paint light over dark, as I am used to when working with oils. And you can go back and make corrections, which makes it much more forgiving than traditional watercolors.
There are several reasons that gouache is great when traveling. It requires no flammable solvents, because it cleans and thins with water. You can use gouache on watercolor paper or other lightweight supports (much lighter in the suitcase than linen canvas). It dries in a flash. And I don't even need an easel--I can just balance the painting on my lap or on a tabletop while I work.
Gouache takes some getting used to, primarily because the colors change somewhat as they dry. The darks tend to dry lighter, and the lights tend to dry darker. But once you adjust to that quirk, it's a wonderful medium for the right occasion. Great for short painting sessions, for capturing an impression, and especially great for travel. I'm becoming a fan.
I'm illustrating this post with some gouache paintings from my recent trip to Italy. Some are finished works in themselves, others will be studies for new work in the studio. Enjoy!
