History of Gouache Paints

Gouache paint, also known as opaque watercolor, is a medium of paint used by artists for centuries. The history of gouache paint can be traced back to ancient Egypt when they used egg yolk in combination withy pigments and it was used to create vibrant murals and illustrations. Today artists use it to create illustrations for clients, packaging, and graphic design projects. Many artists love gouache because it can reactivate when it’s wet and its unique texture can achieve different styles.

Historically, gouache has been used in many different ways. During the Middle Ages, gouache paint was used by artists who created illuminated manuscripts, bright and colorful illustrations in Bibles and other religious texts. These were typically created by monks. It was also used by painters during the Renaissance, who used it to create detailed illustrations and sketches, or underpaintings.

Albrecht Durer, Hare

Gouache received it’s name in 18th century France which meant “mud” in Italian. The medium worked really well for impressionistic landscapes and was popularized during this time. In the 19th century, gouache paint was used by commercial illustrators and designers who called it “designer’s gouache.” Being very portable and easy for artists to take for plein air painting, artists began using it in conjunction with watercolors. The medium is considered easy to use. Make no mistake! Gouache is challenging at times because it dries a different color value than what is seen on the paper while painting. Yet, designers used it to create illustrations for advertisements, posters, and other forms of commercial art. This era saw gouache favored as a medium and the introduction of new colors, binders and because the paint is fast drying. No longer having to wait weeks for an oil painting to dry, an artist could have a final painting finished in minutes.

Thanks to many popular artists such as Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Toulouse Lautrec and Joan Miró gouache became even more popular. Not only did many modern designers favor it, but illustrators and artists loved the vibrancy of the colors available. Today, gouache paint is still widely used by artists, illustrators, and designers. It is often used in combination with other mediums, such as watercolor, or acrylics. Gouache paint has been popular among the digital artist because it can add affects that make digital art look more natural.

If you’re interested in trying out gouache paints, visit my review of the Himi Gouache Paints you can purchase on Amazon for $30. I personally love the Windsor & Newton gouache set, but if you’re starting out there are many different options for purchasing gouache. I have also used the Arteza gouache set which comes with a lot of different colors.