Gouache

For the jazz album, see Gouache (album). For the French wine grape, see Gouache (grape).
Gouache paints come in many colors and are usually mixed with water to achieve the desired working properties and to control the opacity when dry.
Jacob Philipp Hackert, Lago d'Averno, 1794

Gouache (/ɡuˈɑːʃ, ɡwɑːʃ/; French: [ɡwaʃ]), body color,[a] or opaque watercolor is a water-medium paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent (usually gum arabic or dextrin),[1] and sometimes additional inert material. Gouache is designed to be opaque. Gouache has a long history, having been used for at least twelve centuries. It is used most consistently by commercial artists for posters, illustrations, comics, and other design work.

Gouache is similar to watercolor in that it can be rewetted and dried to a matte finish, and the paint can become infused into its paper support. It is similar to acrylic or oil paints in that it is normally used in an opaque painting style and it can form a superficial layer. Many manufacturers of watercolor paints also produce gouache, and the two can easily be used together.


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  1. ^ Doerner, Max (1977). Schilderkunst — materiaal en techniek. Amerongen: Gaade. p. 113. ISBN 9060178289.