How To Use Gouache Paint On Paper

Dry with a paper towel. I recommend washing in a utility sink.

320. Watercolour class Gouache exercises on black paper

The professional illustrators that i’m familiar with use transparent acrylic on illustration board.

How to use gouache paint on paper. You should have only about 30 percent of the paint left on the brush. Gouache paint is quick to dry (much like acrylic), and can be worked back into when water is applied (unlike acrylic). It’s particularly useful to know that you can use your typical watercolour paper when using your gouache.

Tinted white gouache breaks down and covers large areas of the painting. White detailing on the dog’s muzzle is lightly translucent, so it isn’t distracting, but is far more opaque than the effect you’d attain using white watercolor. This example shows the clean, sharp focal area built up with transparent watercolor.

First i created a bold floral graphic and drew it on two sheets of hot press watercolor paper. Then, quickly sweep the “dry” brush over your painting. With gouache, you often paint a bit differently:

Because gouache requires less water than watercolors, you can use it on thinner paper, like sketchbook or mixed media paper. The most common surfaces include stretched canvas or a canvas board, as well as watercolour paper. It’s not necessary to work from light to dark as with watercolours, and you don’t need to worry about preserving the white.

Consequently, most, if not all watercolour brushes and papers can easily be used with gouache. You will not like the effect. This set contains only 5 colors and leaves the rest of the colors up to your imagination and creativity.

You can paint thickly, but you can also paint very translucent, like watercolour. You can apply gouache paint on any canvas or surface. However, artists primarily use gouache paint to create big blocks of solid colour.

This is broken up with loose white charcoal and pastel marks. Lay down a few base colors in a thin layer, adding water to the paint. You can use gouache straight out of the tube, or add water to make it more translucent.

Watercolors, on the other hand, generally don’t show up as well on colored paper. Gouache paint sits on the surface of the paper instead of soaking in, and it dries quickly with a flawless, matte finish. The opaque nature of gouache means that you can paint in layers from dark to light.

If you consider gouache to be a sort of opaque watercolour then you can easily understand that this paper will hold up to its extra pigment. Gouache and all works on paper should not be placed in a frame directly onto the glass, as this does not allow for any circulation within the frame and condensation can build up, resulting in mold growth. If you don’t have a utility sink, i would soak and wash your palette outside with a hose.

Because of the creamy texture of gouache, it goes on smoothly to dry paper or canvas and dries to an opaque, matt finish. This flat finish makes gouache easy to scan/photograph and reproduce. Gouache is a water based paint and is most similar to watercolour.

Gouache is a thicker paint than watercolor, so if it’s applied too thickly, it can. If you’ve painted with oil, acrylics or casein before, gouache will seem similar and you can achieve similar effects. Mix in more water to create a more watercolor feel.

Strong darks contrasting with areas of white paper hold attention in this focal area. You may need a little soap to remove any final pieces of paint. While gouache is water soluble, it will still stain certain sinks.

If applied too thickly, it can crack. For gouache painting on paper, reeves watercolour paper is perfect; Since it’s so easy to work with, this paint is ideal for everything from quick concepts to final paintings, illustrations and designs.

You can also paint on colored paper because it is opaque. Gouache works similarly to watercolour—with the exception that it’s meant to be used opaquely whereas watercolour is effective in its transparency. The rich colours, affordability and beautiful matte finish has made it a popular choice for decades.

A mount between the paper and glass allows just enough circulation to prevent this. The versatility of these colors is great, and it is hand down the best color for all the beginners and the experts. When you first squeeze gouache out of the tube the consistency may appear to be similar to watercolor or acrylic mediums.

Gouache, although a water based medium, should not be used transparently. You can change the richness of the paint by adding less or more water. To paint with gouache, lightly draw your design on the paper with a pencil, then squeeze out a small amount of each gouache color you want to use onto your palette.

The difference that lewis refers to is approach. To add more fluidity to your application, just add slightly more water. To begin, always apply a good covering of paint to prime the surface and to give the subsequent paint something to grip to.

Transparent media require an additive approach of reserving white spaces and building values.

Art marker and acrylic painting on watercolor paper