How to Mix Gouache

[Erica McPhee]

Heebs is right - once you develop a rhythm, it gets easier. Just be careful not to drop ink off the brush when loading the pen (never load it over your paper).

[Ken Fraser]

I think that Gouache is wonderful and I use it all the time. I particularly love its consistency and opacity. It goes such a long way especially when thinned for writing, that I can afford to buy the best 'Artist's Grade' available.

I did this example to demonstrate the power and vibrancy of the colour. I deliberately made the hairlines a little thicker than usual, because I wanted them to show up. 

Excellent introductory video, by the way. 

[Erica McPhee]

Thanks Ken! Beautiful exemplar! I love the colors you used. And thank you for your kind words about the video. This one has been really popular and I cringe because the lighting is so bad. I am going to redo it at some point! 

[bluestockingpen]

Thanks for this video. And for the tip about distilled water! I didn't know that one, so I will definitely switch over. I've been using gouache for a while, but I still don't feel 100% confident with it. Thanks for the tips!

[MeganUnderlined]

Just have to say, Flourish Forum FTW! I was pondering my latest question-- How does one use gouache?-- and here is the answer! Right at my fingertips. With accompanying commentary and real-life tips and experience from so many angles. I can't explain how grateful I am to have found such a newbie-friendly, welcoming place to learn about calligraphy.  Gouache, here I come!

[Erica McPhee]

Awe - thanks Megan! I'm so happy to read this ... you made my day! 

[imdcruz]

If i pre-mix gouache with water, will it still be viable after storage?

[mary ellen]

best to use distilled water with goauche if you want to store it,  otherwise mixing with tap water will create mold!

[Kat McLeod]

Speaking of gouache, I found a pack of 24 colors by Daler Rowney at my local Walmart for $12.97! 

They aren't super high quality, but if anyone is looking for gouache to try out for the first time or for gouache on a budget, this is a great option! I was very pleasantly surprised when I tested them out. I mainly use Windsor & Newton for commission projects, but I found these to be more than suitable for small projects and things that I didn't want to waste my more expensive gouache on.

[federart]

Hi all,
I am looking for some pastel gouache.
Could you maybe recommend a supplier for it? Or would you prefer to mix it by your own?

By advance,
thank you.

Regards, Jen

[handmadeletters]

Thanks for the video--super, super helpful! And I use distilled water for Pearl Ex-based ink, but didn't know why I should exactly. Now I know and am glad that I just followed along without question.

So, my question is: can you resurrect really, really old gouache? I found a bunch of old tubes at my parents' house when I was there over Thanksgiving. And being the frugal, not wanting to waste anything--read, cheap--person that I am, I kept them for future use. These are probably almost 10 years old. From the looks of it, most of the tubes are dried out. With a little water and a lot of patience, is it still usable? What do you all think?

Thanks in advance for responses.

[jeanwilson]

I have taken dried gouache (rock hard) out of the tubes and put it in small containers and added distilled water and had it soften.
I don't know if it works with all pigments. And none of mine would have been more than about 5 years old at the time.
My favorite containers were old film canisters...but sadly, those have gone by the wayside.

Another thing to know about gouache is that reconstituted gouache always seems easier to use than gouache that is mixed, right out of the tube.
The very first time I used gouache for writing with nibs, we were told to mix up our little pans of gouache, first thing in the morning.
We did not get around to using it until later in the afternoon and I wondered why we had mixed it up, and then just let it dry out.
The instructor explained that letting the gouache rest a bit makes it better for nibs.
So, maybe it's an old wives tale - but, I seem to like my reconstituted gouache better than freshly mixed gouache.

Jean

[Amy Corrado]

So funny Jean, I am the same!  I'll mix up fresh gouache and then find that I like it better in the second day. I thought it was something to do with my mixing technique or how much I was mixing.  I generally do a full dinky dip worth of gouache-ink to work on project, but glad it is not just me

[Scarlet Blue]

I third that, Jean and Amy! My gouache is also better the next day, and I have also read somewhere that it's best to leave mixed gouache overnight.

[Brad franklin]

Sorry friends for digging up an old topic but I am having some trouble with my gouache. The down strokes are good but I can not see or barely see my up strokes. more water? More paint? BTW the nib is fine so I know that's not it.