How does aquarelle differ from gouache?
Watercolor painting is a versatile and popular medium that allows artists to create beautiful and expressive artworks. There are two common types of watercolor paints: aquarelle and gouache. While they may seem similar, there are significant differences between the two. In this article, we will explore the characteristics and distinctions of aquarelle and gouache paints.
Aquarelle
Aquarelle, also known as traditional watercolor or transparent watercolor, is a type of paint that uses a water-soluble binder, such as gum arabic, to hold the pigments together. It is a translucent paint with a transparent quality, allowing the white of the paper to shine through the layers.
Here are some key characteristics of aquarelle:
- Transparency: Aquarelle paints are known for their transparency, which allows light to pass through the layers of paint and reflect off the white paper. This transparency creates a luminous and delicate effect.
- Layering: Aquarelle paints can be easily layered to create various shades and tones. Artists often build up multiple layers of paint to achieve the desired depth and richness of color.
- Diffusing: When a wet aquarelle wash comes into contact with another wet color, it tends to diffuse and spread, creating soft edges and blending effects.
Gouache
Gouache, on the other hand, is a type of opaque watercolor paint that uses a higher ratio of pigment to binder. This higher concentration of pigment creates a more solid and more opaque appearance. Gouache is often referred to as “poster paint” due to its vibrant and vivid colors.
Here are some key characteristics of gouache:
- Opacity: Unlike aquarelle, gouache is known for its opaque quality, which means it can cover up the layers underneath. This allows artists to paint light colors over dark ones and make corrections and adjustments more easily.
- Matt Finish: Gouache dries to a matte finish, giving the artwork a flat and velvety appearance. This finish is particularly suitable for illustrations and graphic designs.
- Reactivating: Gouache can be reactivated with water even after it has dried, which allows artists to make changes or rework areas of their painting. However, excessive reworking can cause the paint to lift off the paper.
Differences between Aquarelle and Gouache
While aquarelle and gouache are both water-based paints, the following are the main differences between them:
- Aquarelle is transparent, while gouache is opaque.
- Aquarelle has a luminous and delicate quality, while gouache has a vibrant and solid appearance.
- Aquarelle allows for layering and blending, while gouache covers layers and does not blend easily.
- Aquarelle dries to a transparent finish, while gouache dries to a matte finish.
- Aquarelle cannot be reactivated after drying, while gouache can be reactivated with water.
Both aquarelle and gouache have their unique qualities and applications in creating artworks. Aquarelle is prized for its transparency and delicate layers, while gouache is known for its vibrant and opaque colors. Understanding the differences between these two types of watercolor paints can help artists choose the most suitable medium for their artistic visions and techniques.
Gouache vs Watercolor (Side by Side Comparison!)
Watercolor painting is a versatile and popular medium that allows artists to create beautiful and expressive artworks. There are two common types of watercolor paints: aquarelle and gouache. While they may seem similar, there are significant differences between the two. In this article, we will explore the characteristics and distinctions of aquarelle and gouache paints.…