The History of Gouache: Where It All Began
Gouache is not new; you can take it as a hand-me-down from our ancestors. Cavemen and ancient Egyptians have used an opaque paint which is similar in composition to today’s gouache. In the beginning gouache was utilised to make initial sketches and the final artwork was completed using oil paint. The term gouache has taken its origin from the italian word “guazzo” meaning watery paint and pronounced as “goouhsh”. The plein air technique has revolutionised the way gouache was perceived. Watercolour and gouache became the medium of choice for outdoor painting due to their simplicity. Gouache was exploited for its remarkable property of digitally reproducing the paintings marking its entry into the film industry. With this gouache has made its comeback and found its place in the heart and studios of today's artist.
Distinguished Gouache Masters:
● During the medieval times monks made illuminated manuscripts for the purpose of education.
● Henri Matisse, renowned for his paper cutouts of the Snail and the Sheaf, revived gouache to popularity. He used gouache painted papers in his creations where these papers were cut into desired shapes, and arranged on a canvas.
● Similarly, famous painter JMW Turner created the illusion of an early morning foggy sky in his artwork "Fish Market on the Sands" by using gouache, watercolour, and other mediums.
● Mary Blair, a prominent American artist and animator, who has done illustrative art for Walt Disney’s movies such as Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland used gouache as the primary medium.
|
Illuminated manuscript - Brown and red ink, gouache, and gilding, and leadpoint ruling on vellum Creator: Minneapolis Institute of Art | Credit: Minneapolis Institute of Art |
Fish Market on the Sands - JMW Turner Photograph: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
|
|
Henri Matisse - Paper cutout using gouache - The Sheaf |
Cel animation of Disney’s Snow White using gouache |
HIMI Redefined the Use of Gouache:
During the 20th century, designers’ gouache made an exciting debut in tubes marking a significant moment in the art world. Artists were filled with excitement and eager to experiment with its opacity and vibrant colours. However over time, artists experienced a few challenges: messy leaks, unpredictable squeezes, and cumbersome to haul around for plein air paintings. In light of this challenge, HIMI, a brand that values innovation and artistry, knew it was time to act. The team gathered in their studio, buzzing with excitement and determination. Their goal was simple: to create a product that makes a real difference in the way people experience art. Fuelled by a spark of inspiration, the HIMI team began brainstorming a new approach to gouache. They envisioned a type of gouache that was easy to use, transport and store – something that will make painting more enjoyable.
Inspired by the simplicity and fun of jelly like texture, a novel concept emerged: pack gouache in small jelly cups that was ready to use straight out of the container. HIMI’s team of chemist and artists worked tirelessly to perfect the formulation. They aimed to produce a gouache that retained the rich and vibrant colours while also having a moist creamy consistency. They experimented with different binders and pigments; each attempt bringing them closer to perfection. After countless trials and experiments, they finally achieved at the right balance of pigment with binder. The brands user-friendly design extended beyond the paint composition. Designed with portability in mind, these jelly cups were placed in compact, travel-friendly cases with built-in mixing palettes. Artists could carry their favourite palette wherever inspiration might strike. These jelly cups were a feast to the eyes, with bright colours that mirrored the vibrant hues of the gouache inside. The new jelly cups were launched in 2011, as word spread about the new jelly cups, excitement grew within the artist community. Social media buzzed with excitement as artists shared their experiences with new jelly cups. The most overlooked medium was now bursting with new life as it grew in popularity with artist and amateurs - thanks to HIMI’S innovative approach. Through continuous engagement with the art community, HIMI encouraged open conversations with artists listening to their needs and wants. In line to that they introduced refills and new colour options that excited artists worldwide. Tutorials, unboxing, and reviews flooded the internet, creating a sense of comradeship among its users. What started as a simple idea to make painting easier and enjoyable turned into a beloved product cherished by all artists. HIMI ranked alongside Winsor & Newton and Holbein, has carved its own niche by balancing between convenience and quality. MIYA Gouache offers an exciting journey through colours, available in sets ranging from 18 to an impressive 112 colours. Today, HIMI jelly cup gouache is a hallmark of creativity and novelty in the art world. HIMI jelly cup is not just a product anymore but a movement with “Ride the HIMI Wave!” becoming the rallying cry. (@miyahimi.in)
Why Artists Love Gouache: The Benefits of This Medium
A forgiving medium: Just like the word forgiving implies, the medium is accepting of imperfections. The correction of mistakes has been made easier by the opaque nature of the paint Revival with a flash: With just a drop of water, this medium can be restored both on the paper to blend colours and on the palette to avoid wastage Tea to Butter: Gouache can be used with multitude consistencies from tea-watery to butter- thick consistency. It can be used for large washes and also for bold expressive artworks. It is better to avoid impasto techniques like oil painting as it may crack on drying Matte velvety finish: The high pigment concentration and larger particles makes the medium to dry into opaque velvety matte finish Quick Drying: Gouache dries quicker than watercolour making layering easier. You can apply the top layer when the bottom layer is totally dry, and it is necessary to ensure a creamy consistency is used for the top layer. Layer Play: You can layer light to dark and dark to light with gouache unlike watercolours. Effortless cleanup: Clean-up is easy as it is a water based medium. You can clean the brushes and palettes by washing them under running tap water. You can also use a mild soap for cleansing. Plein Air: You can paint while travelling with just a bunch of materials like a portable gouache set, brushes and sketchbook. You dont require any easels and other special equipment.
Gouache vs. Watercolour vs Acrylic: Understanding the Difference
Below is a colourful showdown that explains the resemblances and differences amongst different paint mediums. It gives you an overview and you can make a decision which medium to go for based on your project and personal style. As an artist you can try them all and find the one that best fits your style (add image of watermelon done using all three mediums)
Essential Tools and Materials for Gouache Painting:
Paints: To start off with gouache painting you will first need an artist quality gouache. By investing upfront in a high-quality gouache you can see a big difference in your artwork. Available in tubes and jelly cups, our basic palette of 18 colour set HIMI jelly cup gouache is a wonderful choice for beginners.The gouache that comes in tubes has a very thick and creamy consistency. You need to add a small amount of water for ease of handling.HIMI jelly cup gouache with its airtight design keeps the paint moist and creamy so they are smooth to handle. Papers: Gouache works well on any paper above 160gsm and also on all watercolour papers available in Hot-pressed, Cold-pressed and Rough paper textures. Try experimenting with gouache on coloured paper black papers, grey papers or tanned mixed media paper to produce incredible contrast. Looking for a more compact option for on the go painting, try our favourite HIMI Gouache spiral pad. Brushes: As gouache is a water-based medium you can use any type of brushes with it and the most preferred are watercolour brushes. Gouache/mixed media brushes are another great choice. Pencils: You can use watercolour pencils or artist grade pencils to begin with your initial sketches. Mechanical pencils HB pencils can also be good choices for designing. Palettes: Palettes are available in plastic and ceramic in the market. Ceramic palettes are a good choice for gouache because cleaning is easier even on drying. White, plastic HIMI UFO palette available in 2 sizes with 13 mixing wells are a good choice to use with gouache tubes. You can also go for an airtight palette like our HIMI foldable palette which will help you with mixing and storing paints for later use. HIMI’s tear off palette are great options for on the move and for artists who are not a fan of cleaning up after painting. Water Jars: It is essential to have two containers for water one for mixing up the colours and another for cleansing the brushes Hair Dryer: Hair dryer can be used for speeding up the drying process while layering colours.
Grab some Gouache paints, Gouache brushes and watercolor papers and start creating!! Share your creations @thoovi.arts (instagram and facebook).
HIMI
“Make painting products more beautiful and professional.Make life more Beautiful and more artistic” - MIYA HIMI MIYA was established in China in the year 2011. A leader in the domestic market, first company to design and produce jelly cup gouache paint in China. The entire manufacturing process is done in-house ensuring high quality in raw materials to finished products. MIYA is a stationery and art-craft supplier housing an extensive range of watercolours, gouache, charcoal & pencil, acrylic, oil paint and markers and paint accessories. All HIMI products are suitable for artists of all ages and are in conformance with global safety standards. Join the thousands of artists worldwide who trust HIMI MIYA for its artistic inspiration and for a colourful future!