How To Paint a Bird | The Differences Between Gouache, Watercolor, and Inks

Let me share with you the key differences between gouache, watercolors and inks.  I chose a bird painting to help you learn the differences. Creating with the different mediums is the best way to learn how they work. Watch the free video tutorial below and let's get started. 

This is what you need...
Higgins Inks- Black, Lemon, Yellow 
Gouache- white
​Watercolor- Sap green
​Watercolor Paper 
​Brushes- Small round & Fan
​Palette or plate
Jar of Water
​Paper Towels

Differences Between Paints

Gouache - Gouache paints are opaque unlike watercolors that are translucent. With gouache typically the color pigments are more concentrated, so expect deeper colors. However the paint acts like watercolors in the fact that you can lift the color off with water, you move the color around with water and you use water to dilute the color. So basically with gouache you can get the acrylic coverage and treat it like a watercolor paint. You can mix gouache with watercolors. 

​Watercolors - Watercolors are pretty basic. I will still talk about them because it's important to know that watercolors are all about water. If you want to add more coverage or concentrate the color to look more like gouache, just don't add a lot of water. The more water you add the more translucent the color becomes. You can remove color by adding water and dabbing it off, like with gouache. Also water is used to move the color around, so there is a practice of getting the color you want, with the coverage you want. You can layer watercolors over gouache for some really cool effects. It is important to know that if you want white, you have to protect the white of your paper from the fluidity of watercolors. You can do this with wax or masking fluid (rubber). 

Ink - Ink is also very concentrated like gouache. Ink acts more like watercolor in the fact that it is also translucent. But once ink dries you can't lift off the color like with watercolors. This makes ink ideal for layering when you don't want the underlying color to mix with what you want to put on top or next to it. Basically the color stays put. The color is vibrant, but you can dilute it with water. You also move the color with water. You can mix ink with watercolor and gouache but it is important to remember that if you want to lift the color the ink remains. 

I would love to show you how I used all three to paint a bird. As I use the paints and ink I select what will give me the desired effects I want. That's how this bird came to be and what makes it unique. 

Watch the video

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