So... I think I've learned all I need to know about using gouache paints for figure painting. I don't think so!
The first issue is the thickness of the paints. I knew that with a paste-like consistency they'd have to be thinned to avoid an impasto effect and to achieve any sort of flow at all. Thinning with water led to the paint beading up on the surface--something I've seen occasionally with acrylics when using gesso as a primer. But it was much, much worse with the gouache. So, I tried thinning the gouache with acrylic floor wax. (Pledge is my favorite.) That certainly took care of the beading and greatly improved the flow. But it also diluted the pigment density. Now, the high pigment density of gouache is, to my mind, the only real advantage it may have over other water soluble paints. Having to apply multiple coats of thick paint to achieve opaque coverage just isn't something I'd look forward to. STRIKE ONE!
I was also hoping that by using acrylic to thin the paint that it would also reduce the tendency of gouache to bleed from one color to another. NOPE! While I didn't give much time to drying I found that I had to be extremely precise with my brush work. Any overlaying of colors resulted in blending. That just doesn't suit my painting style at all. I'm fairly sloppy until I get to cleaning up edges and the last shading and highlighting steps. STRIKE TWO!
Even coating the gouache with acrylic to seal it re-activated the paint and led to a muddy look. Needless to say, I didn't even try wash or ink techniques with these paints. That way leads to madness, I'm sure. STRIKE THREE!
On the positive side, though, gouache is absolutely flat once dry. There's no sheen whatsoever to the paint. I may attempt to use the tube gouache to tint my normal acrylic craft paints. Or I may attempt using them as washes. But other than that, I fail to see much use for them in this hobby.
Well, you never know until you try!
YER OUTTA HERE!
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