Medium Monday: Gouache

Post author:Jessica M.
Post published: August 25, 2025
Post category:All Ages

Tags: picture books, drawing, Medium Monday, illustration, gouache

This entry is part 12 of 13 in the series Medium Monday

What is Gouache?

Gouache is the only medium in this series that I have not personally worked with. It is pigment with a water soluble binding agent, just like watercolor, but is much more densely pigmented. It usually comes in a tube or small container, semi-liquid.

Visual Characteristics

Gouache is semi-opaque, which means that light colors can be painted on top of darker areas. However, the darker colors are still faintly visible, especially where the paint is thin. Because of the dense pigmentation, gouache dries matte (which is a dull or flat surface finish, the opposite of glossy). Visually, the colors look sort of chalky—lighter than the deep, rich tones of oil or acrylic paint, but still stronger than watercolor.

On the right is a detail from The aliens do not want to go home by Adam Gustavson. Consider the colors: are they bold? Pale? Look at the sneakers. Can you see where white is painted on top of a darker color (and then red on top of the white?). Look closely at the yellow background and try to spot different shades of yellow and visible brushstrokes. The variations in the color are a result of the semi-translucency of gouache, depending on how thickly the paint is applied.

Frequent Pairings

Gouache and watercolors are two sides of the same coin, and they’re often used together in order to take advantage of their individual strengths. Colored pencils provide an additional level of detail as well as an extra texture. Gouache is opaque enough to layer, but transparent enough to let the other media shine through.