I’ve wanted to try gouache paints for a long time. Since reading about Illustrators who used them, and having no idea what they were. [Gouache paints are opaque watercolors.*] Two months ago I bought a little box of paints to try, but still hadn’t opened them! The other day on a whim, I decided to give them a try.
I’d heard gouache were like watercolor, but thicker, and can create more saturated colors. I was inspired by the sunset after a storm recently (see the photo below), so it seemed the perfect time to try them out.
I’m not sure I needed to, but I used “India Ink” for the trees. I wanted as dark a black as I could get. In retrospect, I should have at least tested the gouache black to see if it could achieve this. I love the richness of the colors the gouache paints gave me!
Gouache description, courtesy of Blick:
Gouache is an opaque watercolor paint. Whereas transparent watercolors allow you to see the “white” of the paper below the paint, gouache can be applied in solid colors. This allows an artist to paint in layers from dark to light.
Gouache dries to a matte finish, which makes it easy to scan or reproduce electronically, since there is no glossy shine. Designer’s Gouache traditionally offers colors blended from a number of pigments, but some lines of Artist’s Gouache offer single-pigment colors. Student Gouache will have working characteristics similar to Designer’s Gouache, but with lower pigment concentration, less expensive formulas, and a smaller range of colors.
mycreativeresolution.com 
I love your sunset painting Eileen, it turned out beautifully! It’s been a long, long time since I’ve used gouache paints, but you’ve inspired me to try some soon! 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m so glad I inspired you. 🙂 can’t wait to see!
🙂 ❤
Beautiful colours, you captured it really well
Thank you so much Nicola!
Awesome post! I was actually eyeballing these paints today at my local hobby store, where I’d stopped to get a paintbrush. I was very curious, but knew nothing about them. Now I am definitely interested in trying them! I do have a question that has been nagging me…how is gouache pronounced exactly?
Thank you! That is so funny that you were just looking at them. I think “gouache” rhymes with “toast” but take off the last “t” and add “sh” sound. Hope that makes sense! 🙂
Ahhh, yes that makes sense, and thank you so much. Can’t wait to play with the new medium…I have been craving some brighter colors!
I started using gouache a few months ago and I love them. Love the sunset.
Oh great, I think I’m hooked too. And thank you!
Beautiful job and amazing photo! I’m fascinated by skies too. Thanks for the gouache info also.
Thank you! and you are very welcome!