In traditional English and European watercolor technique there is not a strong distinction between Aquarelle (primarily transparent) and Gouache (primarily opaque) watercolor paintings. Even though they have distinct names for the different types of paint the traditional method is to mix the two types to achieve a greater range of transparency and opacity than can be achieved by either kind alone. Very few pigments in the Aquarelle line are both truly transparent and truly permanent. Most of the pigments in the Gouache line can be thinned with water to become as transparent as many of the Aquarelle colors. Gouache and aquarelle colors used by professional artists are equally permanent.

  A few of the artists that used either gouache or combined gouache and aquarelle are: John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John James Audobon, Thomas Moran, Kate Greenway, Sir David Wilkie, Frederick Walker, George John Pinwell, David Cox, Rembrandt Van Rijin, Auguste Rodin and Pablo Picasso.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

copyright Carter Boucher 2006

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS GOUACHE?

 

  In traditional English and European watercolor technique there is not a strong distinction between Aquarelle (primarily transparent) and Gouache (primarily opaque) watercolor paintings. Even though they have distinct names for the different types of paint the traditional method is to mix the two types to achieve a greater range of transparency and opacity than can be achieved by either kind alone. Very few pigments in the Aquarelle line are both truly transparent and truly permanent. Most of the pigments in the Gouache line can be thinned with water to become as transparent as many of the Aquarelle colors. Gouache and aquarelle colors used by professional artists are equally permanent.

 

  A few of the artists that used either gouache or combined gouache and aquarelle are: John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John James Audobon, Thomas Moran, Kate Greenway, Sir David Wilkie, Frederick Walker, George John Pinwell, David Cox, Rembrandt Van Rijin, Auguste Rodin and Pablo Picasso.