Gouache and Colored Pencil

"Loopy" by Joanna Hill - 16x20 Colored pencil with acrylic gouache background.

Over the years of working with colored pencils, I’ve experimented with adding different mediums to help fill in backgrounds and underpaintings. Recently, I’ve settled on using traditional and acrylic gouache paint. I chose this medium because of its matte finish, durability, and cost effectiveness. I’ve tried using Inktense pencils and blocks, oil pastels, and Pan Pastels, to name a few. Each had its perks, but I found that the finish, light-fastness, or durability always missed the mark.

I wanted something that would check all of those boxes and complement the look of colored pencils—without being powdery or greasy—and it had to be light-fast. Gouache paint checks all of those boxes for me. Gouache is an opaque watercolor that can be reactivated with water once dry. In my drawing “Loopy,” I used acrylic gouache, which has an acrylic binder and dries permanently. I chose this gouache primarily because of the colors I had on hand. Traditional gouache would have worked just as well.

Both types of gouache give me an, opaque, and vibrant layer. Its applied quickly saves me a ton of time. The paint is also a cheaper option than using loads of pencils to cover large negative spaces. I have also used regular watercolors with great success for my backgrounds and underpaintings.

An added bonus: if you use odorless mineral spirits to blend, it does not disturb watercolors or gouache (traditional or acrylic) hardly at all.

Here are some tips and discoveries for using gouache with your colored pencils.

1. Backgrounds

The easiest way to use gouache for a background is by simply painting it on with a brush. For a solid background, I recommend mixing enough paint to cover the entire area you want to paint. Gouache can be very streaky and hard to match. Mixing larger amounts help ensure color consistency and no remixing. Any leftovers can be kept covered in the fridge for later touch-ups.

You can also use gouache in an airbrush! Simply mix your desired color in a small cup and dilute it with a small amount of water until it reaches a thin consistency that will flow through your airbrush. I also like to add some Winsor & Newton watercolor blending medium to slow the drying time and increase flow—gouache dries extremely fast! The airbrush method allows for super-smooth color gradients and bokeh effects that are difficult to achieve with a brush.

2. Underpainting

It is possible to use gouache for an underpainting. When used as a first layer, it can easily fill the tooth of the paper. This can be a benefit or a hindrance, depending on how many layers of colored pencil you require. I'd suggest using a toothy textured paper like Pastelmat instead of smoother papers that will make it difficult to layer the colored pencil. Dilute gouache into a thin wash. You need the tooth for the pencils to grab onto. You can even use watercolors for this technique which may even be a better choice as they are much thinner in constancy due to their smaller pigment particles.

3. Preserve the Paper

For areas where you will be using colored pencil, I suggest using masking fluid or masking film to preserve those sections. I’ve discovered that when I use gouache for my background, it has a tendency to bleed, depending on how much water I use.

When using an airbrush, I spray in thin layers, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next.

4. Mixing the Mediums

Colored pencil over gouache: Mixing gouache and colored pencil together in layers is not recommended for several reasons. In previous experiments, I've used gouache as my first layer and tried to color over it with multiple layers of colored pencil. I found that the tooth fills up too quickly, and I don't get enough layers of colored pencil to create depth in my picture. The texture of gouache does allow for some colored pencil work on top, but it is very limited. I use this technique for small scribbles for added interest, but not for the full layering I typically do.

Gouache over colored pencil: You also cannot effectively paint gouache over colored pencil. The waxy finish of colored pencils prevents the gouache from adhering well, and the paint can easily scrape off when you try to color over it again.

I really love using gouache for my backgrounds and color blocking stages, but mixing these two together in layers don't give the best results.