Gouache: In a broad sense it is a water-colour carried out with opaque or body colours instead of just transparent. The earliest signs of the method are traced back to the Egyptians, when they bound their pigments with either gum tragacanth and/or honey. Durer used the colours in his closely observed nature studies, and it was popular with the French, Italian and Swiss water-colourists who saw the possibilities of the attractive chalk-like finish that comes up when gouache dries. Francois Boucher became extremely adept at handling the medium and judging how it would dry out.

 

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Gouache: In a broad sense it is a water-colour carried out with opaque or body colours instead of just transparent. The earliest signs of the method are traced back to the Egyptians, when they bound . . . View Full Definition

Opaque: A condition where a material, such as a cloud, blocks the passage of radiant energy, especially light. Opaque sky cover refers to the amount of sky cover that completely hides all that might . . . View Full Definition

Paint Brushes: The first known examples are probably those used in Egypt which were simple bundles of thin reeds bound to a handle; the British Museum has one of these and its date is put at about 1900 BCE . . . View Full Definition

Varnishes: Protective coatings for oil-paintings, tempera, acrylic, alkyd, gouache and water-colour. Varnishes may be made from natural or synthetic resins, with additions of natural or synthetic waxes . . . View Full Definition