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| Top: Winsor Newton, Second: Acryla Gouache (Holbein), Third: Holbein Gouache, Fourth: M. Graham, Fifth: Utrecht (left), Daler Rowney (right) |
Dear _______,
I’m currently working on a new instructional DVD called "Gouache in the Wild," and I had a question.
In my research about gouache paints, I'm encountering some confusing information about the formulation of gouache. Many manufacturers claim in their advertising they use no opacifiers, chalks, fillers or other agents or "so-called adulterants" added to the pigment and binder, giving the impression that gouache is made up of solely of pure concentrated pigment and gum arabic. With an opaque pigment such as Venetian red, I can imagine that such a formulation might be possible.
But according to other information I've found, some pigments are so transparent (such as phthalocyanine and other organic pigments) that even if they are used generously in the formulation, the gouache would be unacceptably transparent and dark, and therefore whiteners or opacifiers are used to make them lighter in value and more opaque.
Other authorities claim that the formulations include other necessary ingredients such as honey, plasticizers (glycerin and/or dextrin), and preservatives to protect from spoilage or to improve the flow characteristics.
Could you please comment on what ingredients go into your gouache?
Sincerely, James Gurney
In my research about gouache paints, I'm encountering some confusing information about the formulation of gouache. Many manufacturers claim in their advertising they use no opacifiers, chalks, fillers or other agents or "so-called adulterants" added to the pigment and binder, giving the impression that gouache is made up of solely of pure concentrated pigment and gum arabic. With an opaque pigment such as Venetian red, I can imagine that such a formulation might be possible.
But according to other information I've found, some pigments are so transparent (such as phthalocyanine and other organic pigments) that even if they are used generously in the formulation, the gouache would be unacceptably transparent and dark, and therefore whiteners or opacifiers are used to make them lighter in value and more opaque.
Other authorities claim that the formulations include other necessary ingredients such as honey, plasticizers (glycerin and/or dextrin), and preservatives to protect from spoilage or to improve the flow characteristics.
Could you please comment on what ingredients go into your gouache?
Sincerely, James Gurney
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| Top: transparency test, bottom: value shift test |
None of the companies paid me anything or asked for any kind of special favor. But they all gave me thoughtful answers. Here's what I heard back:
Holbein
"You are correct, there is so much differing information on Gouache from manufacturer to manufacturer. Here is what my understanding is with respect to competitive Gouache lines and what Holbein has always offered on theirs.
"- Almost every gouache line, regardless of origin, contains typically either talc, marble dust, Calcium Carbonate or titanium dioxide. It is very easy to tell when using a gouache that contains these ingredients. The colors tend to be drab and every color will have a chalky/milky overtone.
"- Holbein does not add any of these ingredients. Typically they achieve opacity through pigmentation. Holbein gouache is therefore slightly less opaque than other gouache lines, but offers superior color saturation, handling qualities and all colors lack that chalky/milky look. Holbein uses a moisturizer, Polyethlene Glycol and a preservative, benzisothiazoline.
"- Holbein acryla gouache uses a pure acryl resin as its base.
"You are correct, there is so much differing information on Gouache from manufacturer to manufacturer. Here is what my understanding is with respect to competitive Gouache lines and what Holbein has always offered on theirs.
"- Almost every gouache line, regardless of origin, contains typically either talc, marble dust, Calcium Carbonate or titanium dioxide. It is very easy to tell when using a gouache that contains these ingredients. The colors tend to be drab and every color will have a chalky/milky overtone.
"- Holbein does not add any of these ingredients. Typically they achieve opacity through pigmentation. Holbein gouache is therefore slightly less opaque than other gouache lines, but offers superior color saturation, handling qualities and all colors lack that chalky/milky look. Holbein uses a moisturizer, Polyethlene Glycol and a preservative, benzisothiazoline.
"- Holbein acryla gouache uses a pure acryl resin as its base.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have other questions."
All the best,
Timothy S. Hopper
Executive Vice President
Holbein North America
All the best,
Timothy S. Hopper
Executive Vice President
Holbein North America
More product information on Amazon: Holbein Acryla Gouache 
Winsor Newton
"Great question! In fact, gouache can be rendered opaque through two different formulation approaches. The first, and most commonly used, is through the addition of opacifiers like calcium carbonate or titanium dioxide or other things. The result is greater opacity, but the clarity and intensity of the color is compromised, sometimes quite appreciably.
"The other approach is to use pigments that tend to be naturally opaque and to load the formulation so heavily with pigment that opacity is the result. Of the two approaches, the second is the one we use. The opacity really and truly comes just from the pigment load.
"I would also like to tell you how much I enjoy your book, 'Color & Light'. I teach and recommend it to all of my students. It is the best book on the subject I have seen. It is a great book! I wrote a book for North Light about twelve years ago. 'Colour Secrets for Glowing Oil Paintings' so I can appreciate the amount to time and work it takes."
Best wishes.
Doug Purdon
Technical Advisor
P.S. I just received this reply from our technical manager.
Some opacifier is added, but the formulations rely predominantly on being heavily pigmented.
I suspect that when the pigments are very transparent such as Pthalo Green or Blue this would be necessary to ensure that they had sufficient covering power.
"Great question! In fact, gouache can be rendered opaque through two different formulation approaches. The first, and most commonly used, is through the addition of opacifiers like calcium carbonate or titanium dioxide or other things. The result is greater opacity, but the clarity and intensity of the color is compromised, sometimes quite appreciably.
"The other approach is to use pigments that tend to be naturally opaque and to load the formulation so heavily with pigment that opacity is the result. Of the two approaches, the second is the one we use. The opacity really and truly comes just from the pigment load.
"I would also like to tell you how much I enjoy your book, 'Color & Light'. I teach and recommend it to all of my students. It is the best book on the subject I have seen. It is a great book! I wrote a book for North Light about twelve years ago. 'Colour Secrets for Glowing Oil Paintings' so I can appreciate the amount to time and work it takes."
Best wishes.
Doug Purdon
Technical Advisor
P.S. I just received this reply from our technical manager.
Some opacifier is added, but the formulations rely predominantly on being heavily pigmented.
I suspect that when the pigments are very transparent such as Pthalo Green or Blue this would be necessary to ensure that they had sufficient covering power.
More product info at Amazon: Winsor and Newton Designers' Gouache
Utrecht
"Historically, Utrecht paints have been formulated with heavy emphasis on single-pigment colors to deliver the unique characteristics of the high quality raw ingredients we use, and this is still true of our Designer's Gouache line. Consistent with this goal, we use opacifiers and matting agents only where needed, in the minimum effective proportion. Depending on the individual color, we may use inert pigments like blanc fixe or barium sulfate to achieve an opaque, matte appearance.
"A few including Cadmium Lemon Yellow, Cobalt Blue Hue and Naples Yellow have a small amount of titanium white added, either to achieve a hue consistent with a traditional color or to bring a pigment to its best advantage. More information about pigment content is included on the product MSDS:http://images.utrechtart.com/Content/MSDS/UT-Designers-Gouache-13.pdf
"Our objective was to offer designer's gouache worthy of the fine artist's palette, something that would never be called "chalky". There may be more variation in opacity/transparency across our assortment than with some brands, but that's a deliberate choice we think makes Utrecht Gouache such an excellent paint. Since skillful and sensitive use of white is so important in gouache painting, we feel that producing tints is best done on the palette by the artist. After all, you can always add white, but you can't subtract it.
"The binder for Utrecht Designer's Gouache is pure gum arabic. We do add antimicrobials, wetting agents and plasticizers. Our approach is to develop each color individually rather than a generic palette, so there is no overall single formula for any of our professional paint assortments. I will have to consult our Brand Manager to find out which colors include specific agents. None of the colors in our gouache line include ox gall. I'll review my archives and see what other information I can discover. Thanks for your interest in Utrecht paints!"
Matthew Kinsey
Utrecht Art Supplies
M Graham
"Thanks for asking. As a small child I wanted to be either a ballerina or an archaeologist so I have been fascinated with Dinotopia for years. Never occurred to me that I would be a paint maker.
"When we looked at entering the gouache market, many products were termed "designers" gouache. The idea was to make a design, take a photo and throw the original art work away. Many of the colors were fluorescent or not lightfast because the work was "swimsuit fashion" and permanency did not matter.
"We decided to go with a "fine art" version instead. We use the same pigments as our oil, acrylic and watercolors so there are some that are so transparent that opacity requires whiteners. Instead of formulating with opacifiers or whiteners, we leave this decision to the artist. Or the color can be diluted all the way to a wash without chalkiness.
"Since our whole operation is 9 folks and a part time stray cat in a 3000 sq. foot cinderblock building surround by hops fields in rural Oregon, we do not go much farther in discussing our formulations."
Diana Graham
"Thanks for asking. As a small child I wanted to be either a ballerina or an archaeologist so I have been fascinated with Dinotopia for years. Never occurred to me that I would be a paint maker.
"When we looked at entering the gouache market, many products were termed "designers" gouache. The idea was to make a design, take a photo and throw the original art work away. Many of the colors were fluorescent or not lightfast because the work was "swimsuit fashion" and permanency did not matter.
"We decided to go with a "fine art" version instead. We use the same pigments as our oil, acrylic and watercolors so there are some that are so transparent that opacity requires whiteners. Instead of formulating with opacifiers or whiteners, we leave this decision to the artist. Or the color can be diluted all the way to a wash without chalkiness.
"Since our whole operation is 9 folks and a part time stray cat in a 3000 sq. foot cinderblock building surround by hops fields in rural Oregon, we do not go much farther in discussing our formulations."
Diana Graham
More info on Amazon: M. Graham Gouache Set
Caran d’Ache
"Acrylic, watercolor and gouache are waterbased paints. Acrylic is resin based and watercolor and gouache are gum based (resin is not watersoluble, reason why you can’t solve acrylic after it has been dried) and gums are watersoluble.
"Watercolor is transparent, reason why there is no filler in the composition. It is just a big amount of pigment ground in an excellent gum like arabic, or better, traganth gum.
"Gouache and Acrylic are opaque by definition, reason why they contain calcium carbonate to give them opacity. The binder used for gouache is often potatoe starch (dextrin) but it can be also arabic gum in case of extra fine gouache.
"Sometimes, pigments are opaque enough not to be mixed with calcium carbonate (chalk). It is more in the case of mineral pigments like iron oxides or earth (like sienna, umbers etc..).
"Hope you will find answers to your questions."
Regards
Eric Vitus
Fine Arts Manager
CARAN D'ACHE SA
"Acrylic, watercolor and gouache are waterbased paints. Acrylic is resin based and watercolor and gouache are gum based (resin is not watersoluble, reason why you can’t solve acrylic after it has been dried) and gums are watersoluble.
"Watercolor is transparent, reason why there is no filler in the composition. It is just a big amount of pigment ground in an excellent gum like arabic, or better, traganth gum.
"Gouache and Acrylic are opaque by definition, reason why they contain calcium carbonate to give them opacity. The binder used for gouache is often potatoe starch (dextrin) but it can be also arabic gum in case of extra fine gouache.
"Sometimes, pigments are opaque enough not to be mixed with calcium carbonate (chalk). It is more in the case of mineral pigments like iron oxides or earth (like sienna, umbers etc..).
"Hope you will find answers to your questions."
Regards
Eric Vitus
Fine Arts Manager
CARAN D'ACHE SA
More info on Amazon: Caran d'Ache Gouache
Richeson
"We have never manufactured gouache, so I am very short on knowledge. In general, most gouache today, particularly at lower quality levels (tempera paint) will contain chalk, because it makes for great opacity and is a cheap filler."
"For more expensive lines of gouache, it seems to me that it’s not likely/possible that something is not being added. For example, Ultramarine blue is a transparent blue, but shows up in a gouache line as opaque. This suggests that something has been added. There are opacifying pigments (don’t quote me on the correct terminology), really just additives meant to provide certain properties to paints that can be added. I suspect that while they are not adding Chalk, they are likely adding these opacifying “pigments”. Now for you and me, a pigment should be definable as a color of some sort. The opacifying pigments I know would not make any sort of recognizable paint."
I hope this helps.
Darren Richeson
President
Jack Richeson and Co., Inc
"We have never manufactured gouache, so I am very short on knowledge. In general, most gouache today, particularly at lower quality levels (tempera paint) will contain chalk, because it makes for great opacity and is a cheap filler."
"For more expensive lines of gouache, it seems to me that it’s not likely/possible that something is not being added. For example, Ultramarine blue is a transparent blue, but shows up in a gouache line as opaque. This suggests that something has been added. There are opacifying pigments (don’t quote me on the correct terminology), really just additives meant to provide certain properties to paints that can be added. I suspect that while they are not adding Chalk, they are likely adding these opacifying “pigments”. Now for you and me, a pigment should be definable as a color of some sort. The opacifying pigments I know would not make any sort of recognizable paint."
I hope this helps.
Darren Richeson
President
Jack Richeson and Co., Inc
Other brands
Shinhan Pass
makes a 48-tube set of "hybrid" gouache/watercolor paints. They're pigment-rich, non-toxic, and use gum arabic as the binder and most of the colors can be used transparently or opaquely. But note that 8 of the 48 colors are not lightfast pigments, so they're better for designers or sketchers than gallery artists. The set is priced around $180, not bad considering they're 20ml tubes, while most other brands are 15ml.
Shinhan Pass
makes a 48-tube set of "hybrid" gouache/watercolor paints. They're pigment-rich, non-toxic, and use gum arabic as the binder and most of the colors can be used transparently or opaquely. But note that 8 of the 48 colors are not lightfast pigments, so they're better for designers or sketchers than gallery artists. The set is priced around $180, not bad considering they're 20ml tubes, while most other brands are 15ml.These are other brands that I either overlooked or wasn't able to connect with.
Lukas Gouache
Schmincke Horadam Gouache
Pebeo Gouache
(I got a set of these in Australia and used them to paint the comp for the dino stamps)
(I got a set of these in Australia and used them to paint the comp for the dino stamps)
---
Own the 72-minute feature "Gouache in the Wild"
• HD MP4 Download at Gumroad $14.95
• or HD MP4 Download at Sellfy (for Paypal customers) $14.95
• DVD at Purchase at Kunaki.com (Region 1 encoded NTSC video) $24.50
• HD MP4 Download at Gumroad $14.95
• or HD MP4 Download at Sellfy (for Paypal customers) $14.95
• DVD at Purchase at Kunaki.com (Region 1 encoded NTSC video) $24.50
39 comments:
Ah, this is great stuff - it's always wonderful whenever manufacturers are willing to talk somewhat openly about their manufacturing and the science behind having to make these paints.
Your image of the swatch tests though brought up another question in my mind - What brands have you found to have the least amount of value shift between their wet and dry states? From what it looks like Utrecht and M. Graham seem to hold their own quite well in that category. I've been using Da Vinci gouache recently and even though the consistency is quite nice right out of the tube, I've noticed at least with greyscale swatches it'll have a noticeable shift - often up to two value steps above or below the wet state once it dries.
Andrew, some gouache manufacturers advertise their paints as not shifting in value as they dry (notably Holbein's Acryla Gouache). But in my experience, all matte (ie non-glossy) paints will shift somewhat from their wet to dry states. The effect is more pronounced in the dark valued paints. Very light paints sometimes darken a little as they dry.
As I understand it's an inevitable property of the paint changing from a relatively specular to relatively diffuse reflective surface. In other words, the light bounces off the wet paint like a mirror, but when it dries, a ray of light hits the surface and bounces in all directions. This extra diffuse reflection is what makes the dry paint lighter.
I've kind of gotten used to value shifting, and it's not much of a problem unless you need to match a big flat area or a paint swatch.
I'm a bit surprised by the exclusion of Schminke from the list. Is Horadam gouache rare in the US, because it's pretty ubiqutous in Europe. I am interested in the qualities because it is also the only artist grade paint available locally.
Just finished watching Gouache in the Wild and it was very enlightening. I've been struggling with the transition from watercolour to gouache and the video is a superb help.
Fascinating--thank you!
I suspected as much, especially because I've heard people talk about putting a final varnish over an oil painting to "deepen the darks," so it makes sense it's just a matter of gloss vs matte finish in the paint. If anything, at least it forces you to train up your eye to predict and see what the values and hues will be. Thank you so much for the info though, James!
What do you think about Schmincke Gouache?
This is wonderful information, James. Thanks for it! Are you comfortable sharing your personal brand preference(s)? (Undestandably, it might not be the same for all colors...)
Thank you for all the information. I bought your film and enjoyed it very much. I have one comment to add about a technique I have not yet seen mentioned anywhere. I find that the Naples Yellow offered in the casein line of paints is far from true to color being more like a lemon yellow. Since I prefer to paint in casein and use a lot of this color I now use Winsor Newton Gouache Naples Yellow and mix it in with the casein. So far this has worked very well for me.
Samuli and HNK: I've added to the end of the post a few other brands that I either overlooked or wasn't able to write to, including:
Lukas Gouache
Schmincke Horadam Gouache
Pebeo Gouache (I got a set of these in Australia and used them to paint the comp for the dino stamps)
Van Gogh Acrylic Gouache
Turner Acrylic Gouache
Tom, I'm not ready to recommend any particular brand or rate them because I haven't used them enough. However, I will say that I use Schmincke watercolor and I love them.
Thank you for the update!
This was great info. Thank you for doing all this research and sharing it with us. I was especially interested to find out about the size of the M. Graham operation...suddenly to support such a small business, the price of their paint seems completely reasonable! I just wish they'd sell it in larger tubes.
Just to add to the list of manufacturers.... please could you comment on Art Spectrum paints made here in Australia - I have a set of their gouache that I sometimes use over watercolour. Thanks alot for the detailed information.
Hello there, Someone mentioned in above posts , high transparency of color layer , makes it darker looking. Can you comment on that ? Do you think less transparency of paint layer makes it more vivid and lively ? Thank you, Umut
Mustafa, good question. A more transparent pigment will generally look darker as it comes out of the tube because the light goes into the blob of paint and doesn't just bounce off the surface. But when you spread the paint out thin, it looks lighter. An opaque pigment can be either dark or light depending on the color. Transparent pigment is not necessarily more vivid and lively; it depends on the color and what it's doing. These things become clear as you experiment with the paints.
James, I'm planning my first real attempt at gouache pretty soon, and I need to shop for supplies. What brands and more importantly what colors would you recommend for a 'starter set'? Is buying individual colors better as opposed to getting a boxed set? Would the same list from your Watercolor in the wild post apply here? Thanks, Carlos.
Carlos, I'd recommend the boxed set of regular gouache from Holbein. It's a good assortment of colors for a reasonable price. As you need to replace tubes, try other brands to see how you like them.
Can you set out the paints and let them dry, then rewet them?
thanks!
Catagonia7, you can in theory, but I find the paint is juicier and more abundant if I use it squeezed from tubes.
Thanks!
I'm fairly new to using Gouache and was wondering if putting the tube Gouache into an empty travel tin like watercolors is okay to do? I know not with the Acrylic Gouache, but maybe with the "Designer" style gouache?
George, yes, you can do that because the binder of gouache is gum arabic, which is water soluble. Nathan Fowkes often uses his gouache this way. You can put a drop of water on each cake of gouache when you leave for your painting excursion to help begin to soften it up so that it's more ready when you get there.
I'm intrigued at the thought of a "part time stray cat". Does one have to go to Oregon to find such a critter?
Very disappointing answers from my perspective. Holbein is the only company that gave a straight answer and I had to google the difference between acryl resin and acrylic resin. Based on their answer, there is no significant difference in acrylic and acrylic goache MEDIUMS. The difference is only in additives that change the gloss of typical acrylic to matt which looks similar to gouache but it is otherwise not similar to goache MEDIUM at all. Gouache typically has gum arabic as its binder and is soluble in water after it dries; acrylic paint is not soluble when it dries. Huge difference when it comes to painting. Acrylic gouache is a complete misnomer. It is matt acrylic paint, not gouache.
Bud Rudesill
Thanks for your wonderful work, art, and teaching materials, James. I’d like to comment on Richeson‘s thoughts (not experience it seemed) about perhaps not being able to make gouache without opacifiers, to support the statements from the 2 paint manufacturers that were clear about not using them. I can tell from experience as a hobby paintmaker, that ultramarine blue pigments with just sufficiant watercolor/gouache binder, is both very opaque and much lighter in masstone (without ANYTHING else than gum arabic, water and pigment, to be clear). It is one of the pigments that act most differently in a watercolor binder relative to in acrylic binders. Ultramarine Blue in my opinion is just fantastic in watercolor binders (I’ve tried experimenting to make it act the same ways in acrylic paint with no success so far). It is also an incredibly easy pigment to make waterbased paint from in the studio (it can be done just by stirring), but one of the hardest paints to make oil paint from.
Paint transparency as far as I know is variable with at least a few factors, and is not a result of one single pigment trait. Several of the paint manufacturers above mentioned for instance pigment load as a variable. In the case of Ultramarine Blue, in gum arabic or potentially even more so in Aquazol (the watercolor binder in Golden’s watercolors), the pigment load can be 2-4 times higher relative to using acrylic binders, which I think means that the pigment particles will be packed much closer to each other instead of being more spread apart in the gum or aquazol which is dissolved in water. So instead of the light being able to move partially more freely through the water of the wet paint, between the pigment particles, and partially disperse within the paint, more of the light will bounce off the paint.
In my experience, the amount of water in the paint relative to the amount of pigment, is the key general variable to affect the degree of drying shift between various paints. But another big one, is how chalk gets relatively transparent in water. So if chalk is used as a filler or opacifier, either in cheap acrylics (as Caran d’Ache seems is the only way to make acrylics, as acrylics are “opaque by definition”, something that is just not correct), or in gouache, it is to me a direct trade-off in drying shift between the dried opacity and lightness of the paint. Ideally, chalk would have the same lightness and opacity in a dried paint film, as in wet paint, then we wouldn’t have to compensate while painting. But it isn’t necessary, it’s a matter of preference, and differences in techiques of applying paint.
By the way, Ultramarine Blue gouache can be made quite easily at full pigment load at 2.5% (2 point five percent) of the cost of artist grade tubes of it, the kind without cheap fillers I might add. That’s right. Just saying. 15ml of beatiful ultramarine blue for about €0.30, not including the paint container. If you like yours with chalk in, that cost just goes even further down. Gum arabic binder can be made quite easily for about €3 per liter. I hope this might inspire one ore two to venture further into this.
Thanks again for your many contributions James. Best regards, Seb
Alexander, thanks so much for all that info (and sorry, your comment was stuck in Blogger's spam folder, and I just discovered it). That's intriguing how you can make your own ultramarine gouache for so cheap. And all the ingredients in ultramarine gouache are non toxic, right?
And am I right in understanding from what you say that when gouache changes value when it dries, it's not just because of a change in specularity, but also possibly because of certain opacifiers that are clearer when wet and whiter when dry?
Hi James
First, my name is Seb, I don't know why my user showed "Alexander", I just changed that, don't let that confuse you :-). Maybe that was what caused it to end up in spam. I only just saw your reply now, which is even stranger.
Yes, all the ingredients in Ultramarine gouache are non toxic (but never inhale pigment dust or any other dust). The ingredients can be as few as 1) Ultramarine pigment, 2) Aquazol (or instead the oldschool Gum arabic and glycerin), and 3) demineralized water.
And then you can add an opacifier (a filler really), but I seriously doubt you would feel that would make sense under your brush, if you make a fully pigmented watercolor paint, and compare that with one where you add opacifiers. The aquazol or gum arabic can only hold a certain amount of pigment, so if you give it all the pigment it can take for your opacifier-free paint, then you have to have less pigment in the other paint you make with opacifier in it. Pigment itself is in my experience most often more opaque than chalk. And Ultramarine blue is a perfect example of a pigment that should be transparent on paper, but in full concentration in gum arabic or aquazol, it's just totally opaque, and lighter and more vibrant than in any other medium I've seen. I'm still trying to make an acrylic Ultramarine Blue, that looks like the watercolor or gouache version I'm describing here.
And Gum arabic is so non toxic that I believe it can actually be eaten, but please don't take my word for that. Aquazol is non toxic as well.
And yes, you're totally right in understanding that the opacifiers is a key cause of the drying shift. Especially if you think about this: If you have made watercolor paint with watercolor binder, and as much pigment as you can get it to hold ("full pigment concentration"), then in order for you to get opacifier (filler) in there as well, you need to add more watercolor binder to bind the filler, which is also a kind of pigment (called "inert pigment", and it is white, but much more transparent that titanum white). That in effect means that you now have more water in the paint as well, relative to the pigment. So the specularity aspect goes up at the same time as you add this other opacifier (filler, most often chalk), which in itself changes greatly from wet to dry, as the water leaves the paint.
And think about this: There is no reason I can think of not to have your opacifier in watercolor binder in a gouache tube all by itself. That way you can turn the most transparent watercolor paints into gouache. And leave it out of the opaque paints, so you keep those pigments pure color.
To James, to the paint company representatives who responded to James's query for info, and to all who added their wonderfully detailed comments here: From my little studio in the American Pacific Northwest, thank you so much for sharing your time and your knowledge here.
I'm in the process of developing my own liquid paint for my three-dimensional projects (think small furniture and other wooden objects), based on the gouache that I used in my art college days for all of my painted assignments except for airbrushing. I've always loved the deep, velvety richness of gouache, as well as its re-workability for re-wetting and layering, along with how wonderful it is for dry brushing.
The information I found here on this blog entry was exactly what I needed to answer my last remaining questions before I get down to the business of making my low-voc, low-toxin paints for my projects, which I'll be able to manipulate to my heart's content before pronouncing them done and ready to seal. You all have my deepest gratitude. Be well!
Hi Mouton Noir.
I’m glad to hear you are venturing into this as well, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours :-).
Br Seb
I know this is an old post, but I’m getting back into gouache and doing some research. Does anyone know what brands the mid-century illustrators (magazine/book cover illustrators) might have used? W&N was probably around. Any others? Thanks!
Mike, the brands I remember from the '60s and '70s would be Winsor & Newton and Talens. Shiva made casein. I don't know if Grumbacher made gouache.
Thank you for this thread. I have just started making Gouache.
Schmincke has a pre-made binder for Gouache making. On the label it states that it contains "1,2 Benziothiazol-(2H)-one" and "2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one". It smells horrible. Really bad chemical smell. Their Schmincke ready-made-gouache smells so much better. I tried to make gouache with their binder and it was not my favorit gouache. It was thin and I began to wonder if this was more an acrylic gouache.
Sennelier has a pre-made binder for Gouache making that is really nice. Smells more like wallpaper glue. It has a glitter shine from gummi arabicum has. Compared to the Sennelier watercolour binder, the Sennelier pre-made binder is thicker, like wipped cream. I would guess that is calcium carbonate.
Hi Unknown
I’d highly recommend you try buying Aquazol, and mix that with water overnight. That’s all it takes to make your own modern watercolor or gouache binder. I’d say it’s hardly any more work than a premade ready-to-use mixture.
Br Seb
Hello, thanks to all of you for contributing to this discussion on various brands of gouache paint. As far as I can see, one brand was not yet mentioned: TALENS GOUACHE - an important brand used by art conservators in major museum studios like the Getty and the Rijksmuseum. To my knowledge, this is the only brand using purely Dextrin as a medium, without sneaking any acrylic into the formula. DEXTRIN (made from 'old-fashioned' potato starch) is a stable material, remaining easily resoluble in water over time. Adding acrylics to the formula renders a paint insoluble in the long run, and, although acrylic additives to paint may not hinder artists, it can create a nightmare for restorers.
Hubert Baija, senior conservator, Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
In response to Seb:
Yes, Aquazol is also an excellent medium for artistic and conservation purposes. It is soluble in water, but also in ethanol – handy for creating reversible buildups for retouching in restoration. Aquazol 50 is the binding medium in QOR tubes of watercolor.
Cheers, Hubert
James: Thanks for this information and your videos about gouache. A quick question that you might be able to answer from your research and experience.
If I am buying M. Grahame, what is the true difference between gouache and watercolor (at least from a practical perspective as someone doing a painting)? I ask because the website for their gouache paints indicates that the paints contain only the pigment, gum arabic, and honey (or something like that). However, this is what it seems to be saying as the ingredients for the watercolors as well. Is there a reason to pay more for gouache (and patiently wait for the increased delivery time relative to watercolor)? Or is there a difference or other ingredient that I am missing?
Here is another way to ask the question: If I buy paint labeled as "titanium white watercolor" and it is labeled as "opaque" (or any other watercolor paint labeled at a given opacity level and pigment type) isn't this the same (at least from a practical perspective as a painter) as buying the color of the same pigment and opacity rating in gouache?
Why this matters: I teach in Canada and M. Grahame watercolors are readily available in the store next to campus but the gouache paints are not. Also when ordering online via Amazon, the watercolors arrive in about a day and are much cheaper than the equivalent color in gouache (which takes around 10 or so days to arrive). If these are equivalent (from a practical perspective) our students could get access much faster and at a reduced cost.
Thanks for any thoughts on this!
Best regards,
PWC
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Thanks you for this from France! I see that you forgot to mention 2 very old historical brands here in France and which make extra-fine gouaches " sennelier" and " Lefranc & bourgeois" , I would have been very interested to know what they would have answered you, I mainly use linel gouaches from Lefranc and bourgeois, and I find them incomparable in terms of velvety and luminosity, I wonder what additive should be added to have a gouache that stretches well and does not crack once dry? This is a problem that I encounter when I make my gouaches the old-fashioned way. Thank you very much again
Hi liliekitsch.
I’d suggest a bit of honey to the recipe, if you insist on using gum arabic as a binder. But what I’d recommend even more, is using Aquazol. Gum arabic adds a tiny bit of yellow veil to all colors, since gum arabic has that color. Aquazol is glass clear when dry, so for instanceyou’ll ve able to get blues ti a higher chroma.
That being said, if you’re adding chalk to your gouache and/or really aiming for a high pigment concentration in your paint, it’s probably not going to be apparent to you :-). But Aquazol is much more flexible than gum arabic when dry.
Br Sebastian
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