Gouache Paint

Gouache is a paint made by suspending pigment in water utilizing gum arabic as a binder. The gum arabic, along with the high concentration of pigment, makes gouache much more thick and opaque than watercolors. The brilliance of gouache colors comes from their high pigment load, as opposed to the white of the paper coming through like with watercolors. Some manufacturers add chalk to the paints to achieve opacity, while others use large amounts of pigment. Other agents may be added to the paints to make them more spreadable and less apt to cracking, such as honey or glycerin. They are water-soluble even when dry, and clean up with soap and water.