gouache

[gwahsh, goo-ahsh, gwash]

noun

plural

gouaches 

1. a technique of painting with opaque watercolors prepared with gum.

2. an opaque color used in painting a gouache.

3. a work painted using gouache.

gouache

/ ɡʊˈɑːʃ /

noun

1. Also called: body colour. a painting technique using opaque watercolour paint in which the pigments are bound with glue and the lighter tones contain white

2. the paint used in this technique

3. a painting done by this method

Word History and Origins

Origin of gouache¹

1880–85; < French < Italian guazzo place where there is water ≪ Latin aquātiō, derivative of aqua water

Word History and Origins

Origin of gouache¹

C19: from French, from Italian guazzo puddle, from Latin aquātiō a watering place, from aqua water

Example Sentences

Perhaps the canvas’ most beautiful feature is the rich skin of black acrylic paint within which he and his steed, both rendered in soft veils of thin gouache, are embedded.

From Los Angeles Times

Ghilardi encouraged him to experiment with watercolours, gouache, and pastels, which he extensively used later in his work.

From BBC

Later, he’ll transfer these images to silk, stretch them onto wooden frames, and add bouquets of flowers and explosions of patterns with gouache paint.

From Seattle Times

Counts’ ominous and whimsical creatures — ceramic spiders, moths, cats and robed matriarchs, or women depicted in gouache and watercolor — are all eyes, mystical portals into a different world steeped in mauves, burgundies and ochres.

From Seattle Times

A pioneer of the Black Arts Movement in Britain, Ms. Johnson creates large, delicately drawn works on paper with pastels and gouache and acrylic paint that have the scale and potency of paintings.

From New York Times