Gouache??

[prairiesprite]

Anyone worked with gouache before? So if I understand correctly, it is basically an opaque form of watercolor?

Mostly I have worked in acrylics and oils before (although I haven't painted in quite a while!) I have long noticed that a lot of 20th-century paintings I love are in "gouache", but I have never had an opportunity to try it.

I am thinking it might be a good medium to fit in "here and there" when I can, since it dries quickly, and I am also looking for a medium that forces me to work more boldly and take risks since it can't be blended on the page as much as acrylics.

Soo . . . I happened to be in Dick Blick the other day and picked up a starter set on a whim . . . but I am wondering - does the quality of the paint matter with gouache? I was debating between the $40 Windsor & Newton set and a generic $6 set (for a similar quantity of paint) . . . does it matter? I don't want to waste a lot of money on a brand name, but I don't want to waste a little money on bad paint, either!!

Thanks!

[slsurface]

I haven't used it much personally, but I worked in a fine art store a number of years ago. Yes, you can paint opaque or translucent. You get an opaque look by applying more layers of paint (which you can't do with watercolors without muddying). Another advantage over watercolor is that it's "permanent" meaning that you cannot re-moisten and blend colors later. I'm sure that the more expensive set is better quality, but I would buy the cheap set to try it out before investing a lot (but that's me...my favorite watercolors are the cheap kid sets ). I did do a little illustrating with gouache on chipboard (cereal boxes) and liked the effect.

[monkeybars]

Gouache leaves a beautiful, flat and matte finish that is excellent for design and illustrating. It is great for fine art too, but just know you won't get a lot of texture.

[fancyoats]

i love love love gouache. but then, the way i worked with acrylic paints (flat areas of color, not much blending or "painterly effects") really lended itself to working with gouache. get the cheap set, try it out, then if you like it, buy individual colors (w&n)

also, holbein makes a paint called "acrylagouache" which is acrylic but dries to a lovely matte/opaque finish and looks just like gouache. i love love love it.