Gouache is a paint that professionals and amateurs love to use for drawing. It is also perfect for creative work with children, and all because the paint is odorless, dries quickly and looks beautiful. But what if the gouache is dry? Of course, you can throw it away and buy a new one. However, there is a way to save. With a little effort, paints can give a new life.
Gouache paints
Gouache is a dense and opaque paint. Having dried, it will be matte and velvet. It is great for paper, canvas, cardboard or a smooth wooden surface.
Unlike watercolors, gouache paints have less binder, but much more pigments. Due to this, it is possible to block unsuccessfully obtained places, it will be possible to paint even dark spots with lighter paint. Previous layers will not shine through, drawings will come out beautiful, bright and most importantly neat.
Store gouache in tightly closed containers at room temperature. It must be protected from cooling below zero. If it so happened that for some reason the paints (gouache) have dried up, what to do with them will be described later in the article.
How to mix gouache
It is best to mix or breed gouache on a special palette. If it is not, then an ordinary plate can become an alternative. Paint is very easy to clean.
Starting their work, first of all, paint is well mixed in a jar, and then a small amount is transferred to the palette, and there it is already mixed with water or another paint, getting the necessary shade.
Gouache is bred to the consistency of liquid sour cream, however, it is necessary to know the measure - the paint should not become translucent, it must be kept sufficiently dense. The liquid gouache put on drying will leave dark sides. If the paint is applied too thickly, also in several layers, then it will not adhere well and will crumble like plaster.
What to do if gouache is dried
Sometimes, when a can of paint remains not tightly closed, gouache can dry. Bring it into working condition in this way:
- pour some water (it should cover the paint a little);
- the lid is tightly closed and a jar is left in this condition for a day;
- if the paint remains thick the next day, you can add some more water and leave the jar on the second day.
If, when thinking about what to do if the gouache is dry, you decide to use this dilution method, remember: excess water will make the paint layer thin and translucent. After drying, the paint layer will become dirty and crack.
Thus, even the hardest paint can be restored more than once. You need to understand that for professional artists working on works of art, reconstructed paint is not suitable. This option is best used for children's creativity.
What to do with dried gouache (using a water bath)
There is a second way to dilute gouache - this is a water bath. It is necessary to prepare a double boiler made of metal (it can be replaced by two containers of different diameters), toothpicks and boiling water. Step-by-step instructions for softening gouache look like this:
- in a jar with dried gouache you need to pour freshly boiled water, which will completely cover the paint;
- jars of paint are placed in a pan with a smaller diameter. Next, a pan of larger diameter is filled with water up to half, inside you need to place a second pan with paints;
- lids can also be put in water so that the paint lags behind them;
- bring the water in the container to a boil and reduce the heat so that the liquid bubbles slightly;
- the container is covered with a lid;
- the liquid will boil away, so hot water must be added as needed;
- Toothpicks are needed in order to check how soft the paint is.
For not too dried paint will take no more than 20 minutes. If you do not know what to do, if the gouache has dried to a knock state, then just languish the jars for at least an hour, everything will work out. You need to wait until gouache is stirred until smooth.
Knowing what to do when the paint (gouache) has dried, you can save on buying new materials for creativity. In the process of dilution, the paint acquires a liquid consistency and becomes usable again. It is only necessary to remember the protection of hands and clothes, since gouache is poorly laundered.