Best White Gouache for Watercolor: Top Picks for Perfect Mixing!
If you’re a watercolor or Gouache artist, you know that white gouache is a pretty important color for when you’re creating highlights, adding opacity, and making corrections. But with so many brands of Gouache available, it can be hard to determine which white gouache is the best for mixing with watercolor. When choosing the best white gouache for watercolor, it’s essential to consider factors such as opacity, consistency, and color temperature.
Some white gouaches are more opaque than others, which can affect the transparency of your watercolor paint. Additionally, some white gouaches have a warmer or cooler color temperature, which can impact the overall tone of your painting.
In this article, I’ll take you through some of the best white gouaches for watercolor that I have experienced and discuss their unique properties. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this guide will help you choose the perfect white gouache for your next watercolor painting.
TLDR Summary
If you’re looking for the best white gouache for mixing with watercolor, choosing the right type of gouache is important. Titanium white is a popular choice but can make colors appear gray. Instead, select zinc white for the most effective mixing. Zinc white is the most translucent white, making it great for mixing with other colors without bleeding through or for glazes.
It’s important to use a separate container for white gouache when applying it onto your artwork. Mixing white gouache on your everyday watercolor palette can dull your wet watercolor paint significantly, so it’s best to keep them separate. Mixing them together also makes your watercolor paint more like Gouache, as the binders will mix.
If you’re struggling with hardened gouache, you can restore it by grinding the dried paint into powder using a pestle and mortar, and adding drops of warm water until it reaches a smooth, creamy consistency.
Pros and Cons of Each
When it comes to choosing the best white gouache for mixing with watercolor, there are a few options to consider. They all have their own set of pros and cons that you should be aware of before making your decision.
Traditional White Gouache
One option is to use a traditional white gouache, which is typically made with a combination of pigments and chalk.
This type of gouache is known for its opacity and matte finish, which can be useful for creating highlights or adding texture to your watercolor paintings.
However, traditional gouache can be more difficult to work with than other types, as it can be prone to cracking and may require more water to achieve the desired consistency.
Brands to consider
- M. Graham & Co. 2-Ounce Tube Gouache Paint, Titanium White
- Winsor & Newton Designer’s Gouache
- Holbein Artist Gouache Permanent White
- M. Graham 2-Ounce Tube Gouache Paint, Zinc White
Acrylic Gouache
Another option is to use an acrylic gouache, which is made with a polymer binder instead of gum arabic.
This type of gouache is more durable and less prone to cracking than traditional gouache, and it can be mixed with watercolor without any issues.
However, acrylic gouache can be almost impossible to re-wet once it has dried, which can make it hard to work with if you need to make changes to your painting later on.
Brands to consider
Titanium White Gouache
A third option is to use a titanium white gouache, which is a type of white that is specifically designed to be opaque.
This type of paint can be mixed with other watercolors without any issues, and it can be useful for creating highlights or adding texture to your paintings.
However, titanium white can be more expensive than other options, and it may not be as opaque as traditional gouache.
Brands to consider
- M. Graham & Co. 2-Ounce Tube Gouache Paint, Titanium White
- Holbein Artist’s Watercolor
- Schmincke – HORADAM® Gouache, titanium white
Ultimately, the best white gouache for watercolor will depend on your personal preferences and the specific needs of your painting.
Consider the pros and cons carefully before making your decision, and feel free to experiment with different types of gouache to find the one that works best for you.
Best white gouache for watercolor – Wrap Up!
So, you’ve learned about the best white gouache for mixing with watercolor. It’s important to keep in mind that the best white gouache for you may depend on your personal preferences and the specific project you are working on.
After researching and considering the options, we recommend using Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache Introductory Paint Set for mixing with watercolor. This set includes a high-quality titanium white gouache that is perfect for mixing with watercolor to create highlights and add opacity.
When mixing gouache with watercolor, it’s important to use the correct white gouache to avoid dulling the watercolor paint. Titanium white gouache is a great option for mixing, as it is opaque and contains a bit of black, which can help prevent the colors from appearing gray.
Overall, the best white gouache for mixing with watercolor is one that is high-quality, opaque, and able to create bright highlights without dulling the watercolor paint. I hope this guide has helped you find the perfect white gouache for your next watercolor project.
Joseph Colella is a frustrated artist with over 40 years experience making art (who moonlights as a certified Business Analyst with over 20 years of experience in tech). While he holds a Diploma in Information Technology, in true wasted talent style he spent years trying to get into various Art degrees from the Accademia di Belle Arti (Napoli), and failed to get into the Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) at the University of Western Sydney. His goal is to attend the Julian Ashton School of Art at The Rocks Sydney when he retires from full time work. In his spare time, he writes for the this blog, WastedTalentInc, where he shares practical advice on art, making art, and art materials. Joseph’s art has been sold to collectors all over the world from the USA, Europe and Australasia. He is a trusted source for reliable art and copyright/fair use advice and is committed to helping his readers make informed decisions about making them a better artist.
He also loves all things watches (ok it’s an addiction) so show him some love and visit his other website https://expertdivewatch.com
