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Gouache is an opaque water-soluble paint, using gum arabic or acrylic as a binder, which is one of the most kept secrets in painting. Want flat, opaque areas of color? All you need is a gouache coat. Want a strong tone? The high pigment content of gouache pigments ensures color saturation. Gouache is very suitable for illustration and design work because it dries quickly and it is very suitable for digital scanning because it does not reflect light. It is also very suitable for air painting because it is portable and easy to clean. Traditional gouache pigments can be reactivated with water after drying, but please note that pigments made with acrylic binders cannot. All gouache pigments work best on high-quality watercolor paper; because they are opaque, they work well on colored paper. Browse our roundup of the best gouache pigments to find the one that suits you best.
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ARTNEWS recommends M. Graham artist's gouache paintings developed specifically for artists who are keen to customize their own palettes and mix their own colors. M. Graham's gouache paintings stand out. This series mainly provides pure single pigment colors (as opposed to hue) made with a small amount of gum arabic as a binder, so they exhibit a strong and impressive pigment load. However, the main ingredient is honey, which makes the paint moist and free to flow. Sweet things can also prevent cracking during drying and make it easier for artists to rewet the paint than gouache without honey. This paint spreads smoothly, is easy to mix, and can be diluted to obtain a light, translucent washing effect. Buy: Gouache by M. Graham Artists $6.33–$39.51
We also like Winsor & Newton Designers gouache. As the name suggests, it is not suitable for outstanding artists, but more suitable for illustrators and commercial artists who are looking for solid color samples of bright colors, but this is not to say that outstanding artists will not like to use it. they. The difference between these pigments and artist-centric lines lies in the pigments: most of the more than 80 colors are produced using pre-mixed pigments, with excellent color accuracy; less emphasis is placed on the individual characteristics of the raw materials. When used outside the tube, these colors are super opaque and milky white, and after drying, they have a smooth matte finish for easy, consistent, bold coverage. Purchase: Gouache by Winsor & Newton Designers $6.59–$54.00
EDUCATORS' CHOICE Utrecht Designers Gouache and Sets This series is for students or enthusiasts in terms of work characteristics and prices. There are only 24 colors to choose from, and many of them are mixed tones, but in their formula, Utrecht tries to bring out the monochromatic characteristics. In addition to gum arabic, the pigment is also mixed with wetting agents, plasticizers and antibacterial agents to help reduce costs while maintaining performance. These water-soluble paints show more variation in opacity, which makes them particularly good paints for people who learn color mixing. Purchase: Utrecht Designers gouache and set $5.93–$46.34
It is also a good choice. Holbein Artists' Gouache from Japan has launched this fantastic gouache series to meet the needs of professionals. Free of talc, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide and other common gouache additives, these coatings are very vivid, do not appear streaks when moving, and will not dry to powdery. The formula does contain a lubricant to increase flow, so it is smooth to use outside the tube, and small clumps go a long way. This paint is also easy to dilute with water and will not lose its opacity when the viscosity is reduced. Our only complaint is that it is not as easy to reorganize as Mr. Graham's gouache. Purchase: Holbein Artists Gouache Set $6.86–$715.00
Top product Schmincke Horadam artist gouache. This is the absolute best product in our book. The Horadam series of this enduring German company outperforms all other companies in coverage, color and performance. These are expensive paints, but you have to pay for carefully sourced and finely ground pigments with excellent light fastness. Among the 48 colors, all but 8 are single pigments. After mixing, they will produce a clean and refreshing mixture. The stunning opacity of these concentrated paints is completely natural and retains a strong tone when applied. Buy: Schmincke Horadam Artist Gouache $15.94–$189.99
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