Gouache is a versatile, opaque medium providing great covering power and the ability to correct errors very easily. The range of colours is relatively small compared to other media, but gouache colours produce vivid, clean results with a unique, beautiful, matt finish. Little equipment is needed to paint in gouache, making it light and easy to carry. Taking all this into account, together with its rapid drying time, it’s the perfect medium for sketching and small plein-air paintings.
The Green, Scotby, Cumbria (left) is a small sketch, painted in around an hour-and-a-half, using a limited palette of three colours plus white. I kept the image small, making it a perfect subject for gouache. Here are some pros and cons of using gouache. Overall, it’s not difficult to use, but it…