Full disclosure: I haven't used gouache since art school, although I do have fond memories of it. But gouache painting has recently come back into vogue, thanks in large part to “art YouTube”, and I was reminded of how much fun it was. I have been seeing a lot of art vloggers rave about the so-called “jelly gouache” produced in China by the Miya company under the HIMI brand name. I decided to order my own set to see what all the fuss is about.
If you are unfamiliar with gouache (pronounced GWAHSH), it is typically described as an opaque watercolor, although when diluted with water, it can be used transparently, as well. As with traditional watercolor, it doesn't dry waterproof, so be aware that if you paint over it, you could activate the dried layer if you use enough water. This can be great, as it makes the colors blend easily and gives you the ability to soften edges and spread color. It can also be annoying, of course. Be careful not to get drips or spatters of water on the dried paint surface, as this can create spots.
The opacity enables you to use the paint on dark surfaces, though, which can create interesting results. I painted this nighttime scene of my bedroom with white gouache on black bristol board. I especially like the reflection of the edge of the pillow against the night-darkened window glass. That kind of effect would be harder to achieve with a different medium.
Gouache paint dries matte, like that tempera paint you probably used in grade school. The two paints actually look very similar in their finished state, but tempera dries permanent and gouache is rewettable/reworkable, as we've discussed. The paints have different binders – traditionally, egg yolk for tempera and gum arabic for gouache. There is a type of gouache called acrylic gouache that dries permanent, like acrylic paint, but the HIMI gouache is not acrylic gouache.
The 24-color HIMI set is very popular and very easy to find from Amazon, Wal-Mart, and other retailers for about $30. It's an extremely good buy, considering that you get a generous amount of each color, packaged with a mixing palette and a set of three gouache brushes all in a securely-fastening carrying case. The case is available in several different colors. I chose the bright orange so that it would be very easy to locate when stored among my supplies. The tangerine-colored heavy plastic case also coordinates well with one of the tumblers I use to hold supplies, as seen here. What's not to like?
The case has flip-up tabs in the front and back that hold the lid securely on. Once it's removed, it can be placed beneath the tray to keep everything together. The mixing palette sits atop the tray, and within the tray sit the 24 “jelly cups” of gouache, along with a set of brushes in a plastic bag with a ridiculously cute little suit-wearing bird design.
Fortunately, the plastic cup itself is clear, so to see the colors, simply turn them over. Ponceau and Jade Green are the colors pictured here.
As a matter of fact, I would highly recommend flipping all of the colors over straightaway so that you can arrange them in the tray as you want. If you just start peeling the tops off the colors all willy-nilly, you may realize that you don't like the way the colors are arranged and will then have to try to pry the now-open cups out of the tray (they fit rather snugly) without getting paint all over yourself and the other paint.
I've arranged my colors, but I won't be opening them willy-nilly. I plan to be methodical about the whole operation, making sure to record the color names and numbers (for re-ordering purposes, in case I run out) and creating a big ol' swatch chart to show what the colors look like both on a white background and on a black background (fun fact – gouache does not dry the same color as it looks wet – it may dry lighter OR darker) and mixed with one another, so stay tuned for further posts about that fun project, which will also include individual color reviews.
Image credit: my photographs. May not use without permission.
