Gouache is a type of water-medium paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent (usually gum arabic or dextrin), and sometimes additional inert material. It is designed to be opaque and has a long history, having been used for at least twelve centuries. Gouache is used most consistently by commercial artists for posters, illustrations, comics, and other design work.
Gouache paint 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.
Gouache combines the interesting qualities of watercolor and acrylic paints so that people consider it a brilliant medium. It is well-known for its colorful results. It dries rapidly and has a matte surface that does not reflect light. Gouache is often described as "opaque watercolor" or "body color". It uses the same pigments and gum arabic binder as watercolor but has white added to it so that it loses the translucency of watercolor.
In summary, gouache is a type of water-medium paint that is designed to be opaque and has a matte finish. It is similar to watercolor in that it can be rewetted and dried, and similar to acrylic or oil paints in that it is normally used in an opaque painting style. Gouache is often used by commercial artists for posters, illustrations, comics, and other design work.
