All You Need To Know About Jelly Gouache

What is Jelly Gouache? Jelly gouache is a medium that has been rapidly growing in popularity over the last few years. Both hobbyists and professionals have enjoyed this unique and playful paint, but what exactly sets it apart? In this article filled with videos, images and explanations we will look through what jelly gouache is and how to use it. 

By Mot Tuman

What Is Jelly Gouache?

Jelly gouache is a water-based paint that dries matte and opaque and can be reactivated with water even after it has dried, much like traditional gouache. In fact, the only differences between jelly gouache and traditional gouache is their consistency and presentation. 

While traditional gouache is typically sold in tubes, jelly gouache comes in a palette of small sauce or pudding cup style containers. The Creative Inspiration jelly gouache comes with 24 vibrant colors in 30ml cups.

What does the term “Jelly” Refer to

The term “jelly” in this case refers to the consistency of the paint, which is often softer and more gel-like compared to standard gouache straight from a tube. This consistency makes it easier to dip a brush into the container and paint directly, without squeezing the paint out like traditional gouache.

Some Unique Features

The paint comes wet, and each color has a film lid that needs to be peeled off prior to painting. It has a fluffier consistency than typical gouache paint. This is where the name ‘jelly gouache’ originates; each cup looks like a small container of jelly. 

• Pre-moistened: It stays moist longer in its container, which means less time is spent rehydrating the paint.
• Vibrant colors: Jelly gouache tends to come in a wide range of bold and bright colors.
• Refillable containers: Many jelly gouache sets come in refillable cups or wells, making it a more sustainable option.
• Easy to use: Its smooth consistency is beginner-friendly while still providing the versatility appreciated by professionals.

How To Care For Jelly Gouache

Due to jelly gouache’s unique packaging, it needs a little more upkeep than other types of gouache. Since the individual cups cannot be sealed once they are open, they are at risk of drying out, spilling, and mold. Below are some easy to follow steps that will keep your paint in good condition, even if you do not use it regularly.

How To Keep The Paint Wet

Most jelly gouache will slowly dry out in its container once it has been opened, but there are several ways to keep the paint wet without risking mold.

The first way is to regularly mist your gouache with a spray bottle. If you work with jelly gouache on a weekly basis, this will keep the gouache from drying out. However, you cannot use just any water for this. Tap water and bottled waters will contain trace amounts of impurities. When these impurities sit in wet paint for an extended period of time they can cause mold to grow. Moldy paint cannot be cleaned effectively and will need to be thrown out. The easiest way to prevent this is to only use distilled water with your jelly gouache. 

Distilled water is an inexpensive form of purified water that is available at most grocery stores. As long as you are only using distilled water with your gouache, no mold will form. 

The second way you can keep your paint wet and working well is to store a thin, wet sponge in your container. This can be layered over top of the open paint cups. Again, the sponge will need to be soaked with distilled water to prevent mold.   

The Creative Inspirations jelly gouache comes with a foam sponge built into the lid that can be sprayed with water to help keep your paints wet for an extended period of time between uses. Alternatively, thin sponges such as the Painter’s Pal from Masterson can work well, depending on the jelly gouache packaging. Refreshing the sponge every few months will keep the paints from drying out. 

Mold In Jelly Gouache

That being said, if you mistakenly use undistilled water with your paints and mold does form in a few of the cups, you do not necessarily have to throw out the whole palette. Assuming only a few colors have been contaminated, the best thing to do is use a palette knife to scrape all of the paint out of those individual cups and then clean the cups with white vinegar. 

Scraping out only the mold is not enough because it is likely the whole cup has been contaminated, even if only part of it has molded. New mold will grow even after it has been removed. Once the cups have been cleaned, you can purchase Creative Inspirations 100ml refill pouches to replenish those specific colors. From then on make sure to use the distilled water. 

Reactivating The Paint If It Has Dried

If you open up your palette one day to find that your paints have dried out, then there is a solution. The paint will reactivate with water, so pouring distilled water into the cup and letting the dried paint sit in the water for a while will help it come back to life.

Once it has started to become soft again, using a palette knife or small handheld mixer to reincorporate the paint. The water will restore the jelly gouache back to its original state. Just keep in mind that any type of mixer that you use for art supplies should not be used for food later. 

That being said, it is possible to keep using the paint without reincorporating it. Jelly gouache will still reactivate with a wet brush, it will just lose some of its thick consistency once it has dried.

Other Precautions

The only other care-taking that artists need to be aware of with jelly gouache is storing the container horizontally to prevent paint from leaking out of their individual cups. Otherwise, each cup can be refilled from individually bought pouches of color. If artists choose, they can even work directly from the pouches of paint onto a palette, rather than working from the cups.

How To Paint With Jelly Gouache

Besides jelly gouache’s differences in consistency and presentation, it functions the same as traditional gouache. It is typically worked from dark to light, though it can also be watered down to perform like watercolor paint. It will also reactivate with water after it has dried, allowing it to be reworked. 

The jelly-like consistency of this gouache has brought joy to professional artists, hobbyists, and even children looking for an exciting new medium to mix up their routine. If you are looking for a playful and fun paint to bring back some of the joy of creating, then jelly gouache might be what you are looking for. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is jelly gouache?

A: Jelly gouache is a water-based, matte, opaque paint that works like any other gouache. The only difference is its fluffier consistency and its pudding cup shaped packaging.

Does jelly gouache mold?

A: Jelly Gouache can mold if treated improperly. Ideally, no undistilled water, such as tap or some bottled waters, should come into contact with the paint. These contain impurities that could potentially lead to mold when stored in a moist environment. Using distilled water with your jelly gouache can prevent mold and keep the paints hydrated. 

How to keep jelly gouache from drying out?

A: Jelly gouache has to be kept moist, either by spraying them regularly with water or by keeping their environment moist with a sponge. Just make sure to always use distilled water with your jelly gouache. Other types of water may have impurities that will cause mold when left in a moist environment. If your jelly gouache has started to dry, adding a small amount of water to each cup and mixing the cups thoroughly with a palette knife will reinvigorate the paint. 

Why is jelly gouache popular?

A: Jelly gouache has become popular over the years because of its unique pudding cup style packaging and its jelly-like consistency.

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More Resources

1. Acrylic Paint vs. Acrylic Gouache
2. How to Pronounce Gouache
3. The Best Watercolor Brushes
4. Watercolor Painting Tips for Beginners