The Difference Between Acryla and Traditional Gouache Paint
First, what is gouache? Gouache is that highly-pigmented, fluid-like medium you see in all my videos. I’ve grown to love gouache due to its vibrant colors like acrylics and its similarities to watercolor. If you love watercolor but want it as pigmented as acrylic, then you’ll love gouache. If you shop around for gouache, you’ll see tons of brands, but you’ll notice some say Acryla Gouache, Artists Gouache, Designers Gouache, or Traditional Gouache. I think this can get really confusing to anyone that is simply interested in getting started with gouache. You might even have the thoughts like — What type do I get? What is the best for me? What’s the difference between these? Simply, traditional gouache is also considered designers and artists gouache. Acryla is completely different than traditional. When you shop for gouache, the two styles of gouache you need to consider are acryla and traditional.
What is the difference between acryla and traditional gouache? Both still have characteristics that I mentioned before — They are highly pigmented, opaque, and fluid-like. These paints are typically packed full of pigment to give vibrant results similarly to acrylic paint but are applied with a mixture of water similar to watercolor. Unlike many watercolors, once you paint with a traditional gouache, you can reactivate the gouache with water. This can help with any mistakes that might be made because you can reactivate an area, but also it also can be more difficult as you begin to add layers. The best part about gouache is that you can layer white paint. If you’re not into the thought of reactivating your gouache paint, then you might want to use acryla gouache. Acryla gouache has an acrylic binder which makes the paint dry like acrylic paint. You won’t be able to reactive the paint, which can make adding layers much easier. The great characteristic about acryla gouache is that it doesn’t leave the shine as acrylics do. Acryla gouache retains its matte look just like traditional gouache.
Which one is best for you — Acryla or Traditional? Need more information, watch my video below to learn more and see the difference in action.
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