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December 16, 2009 at 11:58 am #988289
I’ve been playing with gouache for some time but I’m now I’m really ready to hunker down and learn about this medium. I’ve spent sometime scanning through the informational posts but I still have a few questions. I hope there’s someone out there who can help me!
I’m a calligrapher and increasingly, I see how easy it is to custom mix colors using gouache. It’s so easy to use with both the broad pen and pointed pen–really lovely. I’d like to start using gouache instead of ink for addressing envelopes, but I’m worried about how they’ll survive the delivery process since they are not waterproof.
I’ve read that you can add acrylic medium to the gouache to make it waterproof, but I’m wondering how that will affect the use of the material. Normally, I mix my gouache with distilled water and a couple of drops of gum arabic. Would I substitute the acrylic medium in place of the gum arabic? How does the addition of acrylic medium affect clean up of pens and brushes? Will I need to clean with ammonia? Can one still reconstitute dried gouache that has been mixed with acrylic medium?
I’ll look forward to any help and advice you’re willing to share!
K
December 16, 2009 at 12:45 pm #1127850Hi K,
I’m new to this forum, usually I’m in the drawing or miniature forums. Have you considered in just using one of the clear acrylic varnishes over the gouache? Here is a link to the Krylon Clear[/URL]. I’ve used it on acrylic and colored pencil and even graphite before. You could make a template to protect your envelope. If nothing else comes up, you could at least do some experimenting with it. I think there is a low odor one too. Just an idea for your consideration. Oh, and it says “moisture resistant, not water proof”, so not sure if this helps. Good luck!
Barbara
Blog:[/COLOR]http://bfreestudios.blogspot.com/
Web:http://www.bfreestudios.com Miniature Art:http://www.bfreestudios.com/portfolio.php?cat=12&artist=bf[/B][/U]
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[/CENTER]December 16, 2009 at 1:37 pm #1127851Thanks! I really appreciate your prompt answer!
I have tried Krylon Clear and it does help to make it smudgeproof, but the gouache will still soften and run when tested with water.
Hi K,
I’m new to this forum, usually I’m in the drawing or miniature forums. Have you considered in just using one of the clear acrylic varnishes over the gouache? Here is a link to the [URL=http://www.dickblick.com/products/krylon-uv-resistant-clear/]Krylon Clear[/URL]. I’ve used it on acrylic and colored pencil and even graphite before. You could make a template to protect your envelope. If nothing else comes up, you could at least do some experimenting with it. I think there is a low odor one too. Just an idea for your consideration. Oh, and it says “moisture resistant, not water proof”, so not sure if this helps. Good luck!
December 16, 2009 at 3:14 pm #1127855I’m one of the people you can and should talk to. To answer your first question try hair spray, won’t cost anything and may do the job. I work in every medium except acrylics. Look my lunch break painting done in egg tempera in the casein, gouache and egg tempera forum and call me back;
You may have to back several posts to find it.December 17, 2009 at 10:26 am #1127848You might just go with the acrylic “gouache” paints in this case. They’re more waterproof than adding a small amount of medium to genuine gouache would be. There are also fluid acrylic paints or inks that might work better for calligraphy.
Another thought, place a strip of clear tape over the address label, or paint on the back of a sheet of drafting film and glue that down. Office supply stores carry clear sheets like this for printing that might work for you. Frosted matte film would take the paint better than the shiny sheets.
As for keeping your nib clean with acrylics, that can be a problem if you don’t keep an eye on it. Just keep a jar of water handy or damp rag and regularly wash it off while you’re working.
David Blaine Clemons
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My Website
My BlogDecember 17, 2009 at 10:40 am #1127852Thanks, David. I had wondered about acrylic gouache. I looked at the Winsor and Newton website and couldn’t find an acrylic gouache–acrylic paint, yet, but gouache, no. What brand would you recommend I explore?
I’ve used acrylic inks and they’re OK, but they aren’t as opaque as I’d like and they sometimes dry to a bit of a shine.
You might just go with the acrylic “gouache” paints in this case. They’re more waterproof than adding a small amount of medium to genuine gouache would be. There are also fluid acrylic paints or inks that might work better for calligraphy.
Another thought, place a strip of clear tape over the address label, or paint on the back of a sheet of drafting film and glue that down. Office supply stores carry clear sheets like this for printing that might work for you. Frosted matte film would take the paint better than the shiny sheets.
As for keeping your nib clean with acrylics, that can be a problem if you don’t keep an eye on it. Just keep a jar of water handy or damp rag and regularly wash it off while you’re working.
December 17, 2009 at 2:52 pm #1127847I’ve used acrylic gouache paints from Holbein and Turner, and they’re both fine. There’s also a vinyl paint made by Lefranc & Bourgeois called Flashe that has a more matte finish like gouache.
David Blaine Clemons
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My Website
My BlogDecember 17, 2009 at 7:00 pm #1127853Thanks, I’ll check them out!
I’ve used acrylic gouache paints from Holbein and Turner, and they’re both fine. There’s also a vinyl paint made by Lefranc & Bourgeois called Flashe that has a more matte finish like gouache.
December 19, 2009 at 8:12 pm #1127849I recall reading an article in a technical Q & A section in an art magazine that dealt with trying to create “acrylic paints” by mixing traditional gouache and watercolor with acrylic medium. The artist who wrote the article liked his results as far as working qualities and visual effects of his mixed paint, but he was in for a nasty surprise when he accidentally got some water on a painting that had already dried. He expected the paint to be waterproof since it was mixed with acrylic medium, but it wasn’t. His paints ran badly and his painting was ruined. He did some further testing with gouache mixed with acrylic mediums and found the results disappointing. A lot will depend upon how much conventional gouache paint is mixed with what proportion of acrylic medium. But the more acrylic medium you mix into the paint, the less you can expect the easy handling qualities of true gouache.
The hybrid acrylic gouaches offered by Holbein (Acryla Gouache) and Turner are worth a try. They are much more water resistant when fully dried than gouache alone, but not quite so much as true acrylic paint. But they do dry to a nice matte finish. I have used the Holbein Acryla Gouache and found it to have pretty good opacity and covering power. I think you would be able to get them to flow off a pen if you thinned them just enough. Be careful not to allow the paint to dry on the pen, however. It could be very difficult to clean.
I have used Golden’s Fluid Acrylics thinned just enough so that I can apply them with an old-style dip pen like a crow quill. It works very well and it’s great for fine detail. I don’t know how well this would work with broad calligraphy pens.
Beverly
I love cooking with wines! Sometimes I even put it in the food! -- Julia Child
December 19, 2009 at 10:45 pm #1127854Great information, thanks! It is very consistent with my own experimentations. I’ve just about concluded that I will continue to letter with gouache, but NOT for envelopes or anything that isn’t going to be framed.
Thank you all for your wonderful feedback!
I recall reading an article in a technical Q & A section in an art magazine that dealt with trying to create “acrylic paints” by mixing traditional gouache and watercolor with acrylic medium. The artist who wrote the article liked his results as far as working qualities and visual effects of his mixed paint, but he was in for a nasty surprise when he accidentally got some water on a painting that had already dried. He expected the paint to be waterproof since it was mixed with acrylic medium, but it wasn’t. His paints ran badly and his painting was ruined. He did some further testing with gouache mixed with acrylic mediums and found the results disappointing. [U]A lot will depend upon how much conventional gouache paint is mixed with what proportion of acrylic medium.[/U] But the more acrylic medium you mix into the paint, the less you can expect the easy handling qualities of true gouache.
The hybrid acrylic gouaches offered by Holbein (Acryla Gouache) and Turner are worth a try. They are much more water resistant when fully dried than gouache alone, but not quite so much as true acrylic paint. But they do dry to a nice matte finish. I have used the Holbein Acryla Gouache and found it to have pretty good opacity and covering power. I think you would be able to get them to flow off a pen if you thinned them just enough. Be careful not to allow the paint to dry on the pen, however. It could be very difficult to clean.
I have used Golden’s Fluid Acrylics thinned just enough so that I can apply them with an old-style dip pen like a crow quill. It works very well and it’s great for fine detail. I don’t know how well this would work with broad calligraphy pens.
Beverly
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