Art Encyclopedia - Gouache

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Gouache
Gouache is also known as tempera, poster colour or designers' colours. Gouache is an opaque watercolour, that is, body pigments are bound with glue that is water soluble. It is different to transparent watercolour as gouache paint completely covers the ground. The lighter tints are made by adding white.

Gouache is a type of paint that consists of pigment suspended in water. Gouache paint is different to watercolour paint in that the ratio of pigment to water is much higher in gouache paint and it contains larger particles than watercolour. Gouache paint also contains white pigments such as chalk which are not present in watercolour paint. These differences account for the fact that gauche paint is more opaque and heavier than watercolour paint.

Because gouache paint colours appear different when they are dry it can be difficult to match colours over various painting sessions. It also allows for quick coverage and total hiding power, making it more suitable to immediate techniques then watercolour paint.