Acrylic Gouache Versus Traditional Gouache

A look at Acrylic versus traditional gouache and the application of both.
Gear I use frequently:
SMLT Art Sketchbook - wetpaintart.com​​
Etchr Sketchbook - amzn.to/3dMRcYW​​
Holbein Artist Gouache Set - amzn.to/33PDHWi​​
Schmincke Gouache Set - amzn.to/3abhfZ0​​
Caran d'Ache Gouache - amzn.to/2MKrx7e​​
Richeson - Casein Paint Underpainting Set - amzn.to/35Oqiid​​
Richeson - Casein Artist Color Theory (Set of 6) - amzn.to/3iPpTzO​​
Richeson - Artist Casein Colors, Set of 12 - amzn.to/3iMXavr​​
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Credits:
Video production and content: Marty Owings
Music credits: Enjoy Your Heartbreak - Martin Hall
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[@onetruetroy]

Terrific video that succinctly shows the pros and cons. I love traditional gouache because it’s vibrant and dynamic. I have more control with gouache than watercolors and can do a bit of blending and streaking on the canvas instead of on the palette. One excellent quality is laying down gouache and add some glazing with watercolors.

[@owingsart]

Thanks for the kind comments and the good tips. I use gouache the same way and glaze with transparent watercolors. Learned much of what I know about Gouache from James Gurney.

[@YassDesignStudio]

Thank you for explaining this so well, to the point and not making the video so long. I was looking for straight answer on the difference between these 2 medium and you nailed it. Thanks.,

[@evilsdexter5261]

you can get some acrylic binder and mix a bit of it with traditional gouache, it works nice, and depending on the amount of binder (and water that you already had in the gouache), it might be fully or partially sealed when it dries

[@owingsart]

Good hack.

[@vincentmonet6172]

“Lascaux resoluble medium” is what I use to do the above hack. Also mixes well (and instantly, dependent on the pigment) with straight pigment powder.

[@PrincessofKeys]

Now Im wondering if I should get regular gouache or acrylic gouache for painting faceups on dolls. The thing that gets me is the fast drying which I figured you can use a blending medium for acrylic gouache so it doesn't dry too fast. As long as the opaque is still there it's mostly what Im looking for and of course fixing any mistakes I'll make.

[@MDCampbell]

An excellent discussion, Marty. Like you said, years ago, these options just weren't available. I love the idea of acrylic gouache, especially in how permanent it becomes; however, I'm a traditionalist and I have always loved the way I could go back into a gouache sketch or painting and it will still reactivate days or even weeks later. Maybe not a lot, but enough that I can get some effects from the bottom layers. Thank you for this one! Great job and the painting is signature! ~ Mark

[@owingsart]

Hi Mark - Sorry it's taken me a while to reply to your message here. I agree with you that it's nice to be able to reactive the wc or gouache, but if I don't want to it's nice to have options. Hope you are staying well my friend. - My friend.

[@mageetu]

Thank you greatly! I just got the twelve-tube set of the 107 Holbein at a good discount. I look forward to learning to use it as well as experimenting with the handful of hacks I've seen mentioned around YT lately. Maybe as part of a mixed media collage. Should be fun for me seeing how it goes.

[@bobbibrady9649]

Very informative and short. I love that and the painting you did.

[@owingsart]

Thanks Bobbi.

[@arcuda2001]

norakag, here.. i think the companys' labeling it acryla gouache is about marketing .. it can be confusing , for sure.. i bought a few tubes of the acryla gouache, and just use them very thinned out ( as a wash), if i want to tone the paper , without worrying if the color will lift when i paint on top of it .. and yes, we have soooo many options these days.. it can be sensory overload for sure lol but what a nice " problem" to have 😬😬thanks, Marty !! Norakag 😃

[@owingsart]

I totally agree!

[@AnnieThyme]

Thanks for the explainer Marty and I loved the painting you were doing to demonstrate, I wish I was somewhere with a view of trees like that right now! Have a good week! :)

[@owingsart]

Hey thanks a ton Annie. Much appreciated. Are in the city?

[@flychk1229]

Thanks Marty! Always informative 👍

[@vnnvideo9023]

Beautiful colors!

[@EveBolt]

They should've named it matte acrylic rather than acrylic gouache, it would've spared so many headaches XD

[@owingsart]

Agreed.

[@Jennifer-wr9si]

I thought so too until I saw a Jerry's Artarama video taking down Liquitex's 'acrylic gouache' - unlike other media, the formulation of acrylic gouache *really* varies brand by brand which is why it's such a confusing medium.

[@LynnePriceStudio]

Holbein makes a mat acrylic also.

[@Anonymoi]

I also thought this until I tried Holbein Acryla Gouache. I agree with other commenters that a.) acrylic gouache formulations vary, and b.) Holbein actually offers a matte acrylic paint too, which is different from their acryla gouache. I was amazed at how the Holbein acryla gouache handles. It truly handles like traditional gouache, but, as mentioned in this video, it is fixed when dry, and it also won’t be prone to cracking if used thickly. But it is amazing just how smooth it is and how much you can water it down into a wash and still have even distribution of pigment (at least with non-granulating pigments) and there is no streakiness, no tackiness as it’s drying.

[@user-pb2vg7np1e]

Can we pour Holbein acryla gouache in a palette and reuse it ? @@Anonymoi

[@chrishestand1]

Spent 3 months now experimenting making my own paints. Main difference I’ve found? Acrylic is bound with acrylic polymer. Usually lab made, and waterproof. Gouache is basically watercolor with chalk and bound with gum arabic, which is water soluble.

[@bruhmania7359]

well chemically speaking yeah ig you're right. gouache is opaque watercolor, acrylic is a plastic chemical abomination lol.

[@heidicook2395]

Thanks for showing the fifference.

[@sabinelloyd8532]

Very informative thank you.

[@deeman524]

Thanks for this, very helpful

[@rainbowwarpig3536]

Best short explanation video 🎉

[@owingsart]

Glad it was helpful!

[@recoveringsoul755]

Since it dries like plastic, same as regular acrylic paint, it doesn't seem like it would be a good thing to use as an underpainting or page preparation before using watercolor or regular gouache. Wouldn't the water based medium just not stick to the plastic paint? Unlike Cassein which seems to work pretty well for James Gurney anyway.

[@capbin146]

Any idea how long does acrylic gouache stay open once out the tube,traditional gouache can rewet and normal acrylic hardens quite quickly apart from the longer lasting ones like interactive?

[@Spafon1]

Acryla is lovely, but it's not cheap (I knowTurner do one which is cheaper. Not sure if quality is as high as the Holbein). It'd be useful to see you do a comparison between Acryla gouache and plain old acrylics perhaps with a matt medium.

[@owingsart]

Honestly never use acrylics and although I never say never, I don't have any plans to use acrylic in the near future. It's taken me like 30 years to get half decent at a single medium.

[@LynnePriceStudio]

Turner gouache is mostly fugitive.

[@MadebyDawn23]

Hey Marty, thanks for your video. I'm not really a gouache user. I have the arrtx gouache and daler rowney aquafine. What are your thoughts on Himi or arrtx gouache

[@owingsart]

Hi there Dawn - I haven't used either one of those brands, but I think the Daler Rowney would be a student grade. Worth giving them a try thought.

[@ShahanoorMamun]

Good share 👍

[@Shannonishere]

Great comparison Marty! 😊

[@owingsart]

Thanks Shannon. Hope you are doing great my friend.

[@Shannonishere]

@@owingsart I am Marty! Hope you’re doing okay. 😊

[@roundhilljamaica]

Can you share a good brand for 'traditional' Gouache?

[@lilyhong1220]

Does acrylic gouache dry 3D like acrylic paintings do, or like gouache paintings that are flat. I know it's matte, but when you run your finger over is it flat like gouache or a bit bumpy like acrylic?

[@owingsart]

They can be used like that get a slight impasto look if you use larger amounts and it's thick, however you may want to try Casein for that.

[@serenityjewel]

I thought acrylic gouache was just matte acrylic paint and gouache was just thick watercolor paint, like watercolor straight out the tube. That's not right?

[@essietangle9931]

Thanks Marty

[@owingsart]

Have ya'll recovered from the snow storm yet?

[@jessbutterfly9801]

Marty what’s the difference between acrylic gouche and acrylic paint then?

[@lunakat5763]

Watch the video he explains everything.

[@lesleykuhn8345]

How do you know which is which by looking at your tubes? Acrylic vs Traditional?

[@dannychen1064]

usually it's stated on the tubes

[@recoveringsoul755]

also seems like the tube size is much larger for the new stuff, maybe because you need to/or can use more paint for the textures and stuff

[@lordoftheflings]

is acrylic gouache just regular acrylic paint in a small tube?

[@owingsart]

Ha! No, the whole make up of this paint is different. It might be accurate to say that it's acrylic paint that dries flat and opaque and behaves in almost every respect the same as traditional gouache, except that it can't be re-activated.

[@luciferbroke7875]

so whats the difference between acrylic and acrylic gouache?

[@owingsart]

Acrylic paint will not be as flat or velvety as gouache. I'm not an acrylic painter, so probably best to check the internet on this, but I think my statement is fairly accurate.

[@LynnePriceStudio]

Holbein makes a mat acrylic in addition to acrylic gouache.

[@bonnierosendale]

So, Marty...what's the difference between "acrylic gouache" and regular acrylic paint?

[@owingsart]

Hi Bonnie - You’ll have to watch the video! 😀

[@cindijennings2285]

Acrylic gouache is essentially acrylic paint with a matte finish.

[@cindijennings2285]

Bonnie, acrylic gouache is essentially acrylic paint with a matte finish.

[@KatMa664]

The only reason I use gouache instead of acrylic is because I can clean my brushes easily and if I’m outside and if they dry out, I don’t worry they’ll be destroyed. So why would I use acrylic gouache instead of acrylic?

[@owingsart]

It cleans up exactly like regular gouache.

[@barefacedquestions]

Is there anything to watch out for when discarding water with acrylic gouache? I know that it's a concern with acrylic because dumping acrylic water down the drain is bad for the environment AFAIK

[@bicagonzalez3515]

Traducir ak español

[@jockscrapdraws4672]

FIRST YASS lol

[@bicagonzalez3515]

Traducir a español siempre Traducit

[@katsmith8263]

So it's just acrylic paint😅😅😅😅

[@owingsart]

Not really because it dries with a very pronounced matte finish and it can be re-wet if you soak it enough. Similar properties, but definitely not the same.

[@kp9894]

I wanna ask if these acrylic gouache can be a great refill for posca pens? I mean the ink of posca markers are matte, despite being acrylic-based...