Cody Casey
Gouache is a water-based paint that artists have used for centuries. It is commonly sold in tubes or cups, but it can also be purchased in cake or pan form. While using gouache in pans can be more portable and convenient than traditional tubes, it may result in a loss of the paint's creamy consistency and opacity. To use gouache in pans, one must fill the pan with fresh paint, tapping it on a table to spread and adding more paint before letting it air dry. Some colours may be prone to cracking and crumbling, and the paint may need to be rehydrated with water before use. Artists should be mindful of the quality of gouache used in pans and may opt to make their own.
Characteristics and values of using gouache in pans:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Portability | Gouache in pans is more portable than tubes or cups. |
| Consistency | Gouache in pans loses its creamy consistency. |
| Quality | The quality of gouache in pans may vary, and it is recommended to use high-quality artist-grade paint to ensure better rewetting capabilities. |
| Opacity | Dried gouache in pans may have reduced opacity when rewet with water. |
| Cracking | Gouache in pans may crack and crumble, and some brands may perform better than others in this regard. |
| Rewetting | Gouache in pans can be rewet with water, but the rewetting capabilities may vary across brands and colours. |
| Customisation | Users can create their own gouache pans by filling them with fresh paint and letting them dry. |
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What You'll Learn
Using gouache in pans vs. tubes
Gouache is a water-based paint that has been used for centuries. It is sold in tubes or cups, but can also be purchased in cake or pan form. While gouache is easy to reactivate with water, using it in a dry form may cause you to lose the creamy consistency and opacity that is characteristic of the paint.
One of the benefits of using gouache in pans is that it is more portable than tubes or cups. When using gouache in pans, you can rewet the paint with water, similar to watercolour. However, rehydrating the paint will never make it as opaque as fresh paint from tubes. If you are looking for thick, saturated paint, using gouache straight out of the tubes may be a better option.
When purchasing gouache pans, it is important to be careful with the quality of the paint. Some manufacturers use binders that have a strong chemical odour, and cheaper brands may have more fillers that degrade when mixed with water, resulting in more transparent colours. To prevent this, you can try adding a drop of gum Arabic to each colour to increase the binder.
If you already have gouache tubes and want to use pans, you can make your own by filling the pans with paint and letting them air dry. However, some colours may be prone to cracking and crumbling, so it is recommended to experiment with different brands to find the best option.
Overall, both tube and pan gouache have their advantages and disadvantages. Tube gouache offers a creamy consistency and higher opacity, while pan gouache provides portability and convenience, especially when travelling. The decision between using gouache in pans or tubes ultimately depends on the artist's preferences and the specific requirements of the project.
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The benefits of using pans
Gouache is a water-based paint that artists have used for centuries. It is known for its opacity and vibrant colours, making it a popular choice for painters. While gouache is commonly sold in tubes or cups, it can also be found in pans or cakes.
Using gouache in pans offers several benefits. Firstly, pans are more portable than tubes or cups, making them ideal for travel sketchbooks and plein air painting. They reduce the mess created by carrying tubes of paint that can easily be crushed or broken in a backpack.
Another advantage of pans is cost-effectiveness. With pans, you can squeeze paint from tubes into empty pans, saving money in the long run and allowing you to refill colours as needed. You can also create your own custom colour arrangements, such as a chromatic wheel or light and dark colours.
Pans are also convenient for rewetting gouache. Before starting your sketching session, you can reactivate the paint by adding a drop or two of water to each pan of colour. This prepares the paint for use and ensures a smooth painting experience.
While using gouache in pans has its benefits, it's important to consider some potential drawbacks. One disadvantage is the loss of the creamy consistency that fresh tube gouache offers. Additionally, some colours may be prone to cracking and crumbling, especially earth tones. To mitigate this, you can mix the gouache with a small amount of glycerin, honey, and distilled water.
In conclusion, using gouache in pans offers advantages such as portability, cost-effectiveness, customisability, and convenience for rewetting. However, it's important to weigh these benefits against the potential loss of consistency and the risk of crumbling. Ultimately, the decision to use pans depends on personal preference and the specific needs of the artist.
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Downsides of using dried gouache
Gouache is a water-based paint that artists have used for centuries. It is available in tubes, cups, cakes, or pans. While using dried gouache has its benefits, there are several downsides to it as well.
Firstly, dried gouache can be challenging to work with due to its fast-drying time. In dry climates and well-heated rooms, gouache can dry too quickly, causing it to dry on the mixing tray or even on the brush before it can be applied to the painting surface. This can be frustrating for artists who paint slowly and prefer to take their time with their work.
Secondly, when rewetting dried gouache, the opacity of the paint is reduced. Gouache is known for its opaque quality, but once water is added to rehydrate the dried paint, the opacity decreases. If too much water is added, the gouache can become almost identical to watercolour, defeating the purpose of using gouache, especially considering that gouache is more expensive. While it is possible to practice adding just the right amount of water to maintain some opacity, this can be time-consuming and inconsistent across different colours.
Another downside of using dried gouache is the potential for crumbling and cracking. Some brands of gouache tend to crumble and crack when dried, creating a mess and resulting in paint wastage. Additionally, the dried paint crumbs can fall into other pans, contaminating the colours and affecting the overall quality of the artwork.
Furthermore, dried gouache may not provide the same creamy consistency as fresh gouache from tubes. The creamy consistency is one of the appealing characteristics of gouache, and by using dried gouache, artists may not achieve the same texture and smoothness in their paintings.
Lastly, dried gouache requires constant attention to ensure it doesn't dry out prematurely. Artists need to spritz the paint with water frequently to prevent it from drying out, and even then, it may not be sufficient in very dry climates. This constant need to monitor the paint can interrupt the creative flow and slow down the painting process.
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How to make your own gouache pans
Yes, you can put gouache in pans. However, you will lose the creamy consistency of gouache, and the quality of the paint may also be affected.
If you want to make your own gouache pans, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to use a pre-made pan set or create your own. You can buy empty metal watercolour boxes that will hold 24 full pans, or you can use a larger box. You can also use a large pre-made watercolour palette. If you want to make your own pans, you can use small, straight-sided plastic paint wells called "full pans", which snap into the standard-sized grippers inside the paint box. You can also use smaller "half pans" for specialty colours.
Next, you need to choose your gouache paint. You can use tube paint or cups. If you are using tubes, simply squeeze the paint into the pans. If you are using cups, you will need to transfer the paint carefully to avoid spillage. You can use a toothpick to ensure the paint gets into every corner of the pan and then fill it to the top.
Once your pans are filled, let them air dry. You can speed up the process by tapping the pans on a table to spread the paint and then adding more paint before leaving it to dry. You can arrange your colours in a chromatic wheel or with light and dark colours.
It is important to note that gouache dried into pans may not rewet to its original consistency. Some colours, especially earth tones, may be prone to cracking and crumbling. To prevent this, you can add a few drops of glycerin, honey, or oxgall to the paint before putting it into the pans. You can also use a stay-wet palette and only use filtered water to make your paint last longer and prevent mould.
By following these steps, you can create your own gouache pans with your desired colours and consistency.
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Best gouache brands for pans
Yes, you can use gouache in pans, but you will lose the creamy consistency of the paint. Gouache is available in pan form, which can be helpful for different purposes, and it is also easy to transport. If you are looking for the best gouache paints for pans, here are some recommendations:
Caran d'Ache Gouache Studio
The Caran d'Ache Gouache Studio's paints are unique because they are packaged in pans. In each pan, there are fourteen colours arranged horizontally, along with a larger tube of white gouache and a brush. The compact packaging makes it convenient to carry around. Overall, it is a great quality gouache from Switzerland, but it is not cheap.
Royal & Langnickel GOU24
The Royal & Langnickel GOU24 comes in 24 colours and is popular for its price. If you are on a budget and looking for cheap gouache to try out, this set can work. The paint has a medium density, making it convenient to paint with. Even though it is budget-friendly, it remains a high-quality product.
M. Graham Gouache
M. Graham Gouache is made without opacifiers, allowing the user to decide how much to add. The paint dries well in pans and re-wets nicely. It is also suitable for use in a dry climate.
Holbein Artists' Gouache Paints
Holbein Artists' Gouache Paints create a matte and opaque finish once dry. The brand is known for its extraordinary Japanese artist-grade paints and is one of the top-recommended gouache paints. However, the downside is the small tube size of only 15 ml.
Turner Design Gouache
Turner Design Gouache is known for creating quality art materials for over 50 years. Their gouache paints use pure ingredients like gum Arabic to produce high-quality pigments. A unique feature of this brand is that you can easily attain a velvety finish using the dry brush technique without leaving annoying brush marks.
Schmincke Gouache
Schmincke Gouache is mentioned as one of the best gouache paints by some users. However, it contains ox gall, an animal-derived substance that some people may not want to use.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can put gouache in pans. However, you will lose the creamy consistency of gouache, and the opacity may be reduced.
Pans are more portable than tubes or cups, and they reduce mess. Gouache in pans is also easier to rewet than gouache in tubes.
When putting gouache in pans, it's important to consider the quality of the paint. Cheaper brands may have more fillers that degrade when mixed with water, resulting in reduced opacity. To prevent this, you can add a drop of gum Arabic to each colour. You can also mix the gouache with a small amount of glycerin and distilled water, or honey.
