Saturday, July 25, 2009

Watercolor and Gouache

Gouache (English pronunciation: 
/ɡuːˈæʃ/French: [ˈɡwaʃ]), the name of which derives from the Italian guazzowater paint, splash or bodycolor (the term preferred by art historians) is a type of paint consisting of pigment suspended in water. Gouache differs from watercolor in that the particles are larger, the ratio of pigment to water is much higher, and an additional, inert, white pigment such as chalk is also present. Like all watermedia, it is diluted with water. (Gum Arabic is also present as a binding agent, just as in water color.) This makes gouache heavier and more opaque, with greater reflective qualities. (All this from Wikepedia). 
Well, never really having done anything in gouache before, I felt very awkward in this media but just for fun on a rainy afternoon...I thought I'd paint a scene from a photo taken just yesterday.  Figures are not a strong point either so I had two strikes against me.  I actually just used white gouache with watercolor to color it.  I would try it again but I think I need a little more instruction.  I need Donna Zagotta's DVD!  Amen.  But sometimes you don't know what you don't know until you try it.  
This is 11 x 15 on 300# Arches paper.

1 comment:

  1. I like my hair! Much pretty in the painting than in real life. :)

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