Turner Colour: Gouache Paint

Jerry's carries for artists only the finest, highly pigmented choices of gouache paint, a water-based paint with the consistency of watercolor but provides opaque coverage. Gouache dries to a matte finish and is well-suited for a variety of applications, including paintings, illustrations and detailed drawings. Similar to watercolor, gouache paints are brilliant with the vibrancy of acrylic paints, but it's opaque vibrant colors dry to the touch and provide excellent coverage and opacity. Since it dries to a velvety matte yet beautiful finish, it is widely used by artists to photograph art, and a popular choice among illustrators, designers and fine artists who appreciate its flexibility, ease of use, and ability to achieve a wide range of effects.

If you are looking for high-quality gouache paint, artists trust Jerry’s Artarama for only premium quality. We also carry an extensive selection of watercolor brushes, art panels & boards, watercolor papers, paints and more. Find all the materials you need at Jerry’s!

What is Gouache Paint?

Gouache is similar to watercolor paints with high opacity and coverage, dries quickly and produces a smooth finish and has an opaqueness that makes it ideal for blending, glazing, and creating drawings with shades of color. Gouache is water-soluble and can be reactivated with water even after it has dried, composed of pigment, water and gum arabic and is a mixture of opaque body color and water that works well on paper, fabric, wood, glass and many other surfaces. It also has a creamy consistency that allows for quick transitions between colors, making it a good choice for beginners as well as more experienced artists.

Where did the Term Gouache Come From? The term "gouache" comes from the Italian word "guazzo" referring to paintings using this opaque method. Gouache is translucent when wet, but dries to a completely opaque state.

What Do You Use to Seal Gouache Paint?

To seal a painting done with gouache first clean the surface to keep the paint from sinking into any existing stains or residue and can be sealed with a spray varnish (or fixative) for permanent adhesion to the surface upon which it has been applied. Once you have finished painting, treat your work with a sealant and allow to dry before framing.
NOTE: Varnish will affect the depth, darkness and finish. If want to retouch the painting again at some point in the future the varnish will not come off.