Gouache In Dip Pens

[Achim]

Since it was too cheap to resist, I bought a set of Schmincke Calligraphy gouache at ebay (see e.g. here: http://www.blotspens.co.uk/acatalog/Calligraphy_Schmincke_Calligraphy_Gouache_11.html). Now I have no idea how to use it in dip pens - out of the tube it's of course way too thick. Do I add water? Distilled water? And in which relation to the colour? Maybe also some Gum Arabic?

 

Thank you for any hints and tips - I'm sure some of you have experience with it!

[JefferyS]

Gouache is watercolor pigments added to white pigment, so there is no real transparency. Sort of like writing with the paint you used in grammar school.

[caliken]

Since it was too cheap to resist, I bought a set of Schmincke Calligraphy gouache at ebay (see e.g. here: http://www.blotspens.co.uk/acatalog/Calligraphy_Schmincke_Calligraphy_Gouache_11.html). Now I have no idea how to use it in dip pens - out of the tube it's of course way too thick. Do I add water? Distilled water? And in which relation to the colour? Maybe also some Gum Arabic?

 

Thank you for any hints and tips - I'm sure some of you have experience with it!

As Jeffrey says, there is no transparency with gouache and it is this very characteristic that I like so

much about it.

 

I dilute from the tube with ordinary tap water. As a simple guide, if the colour sits on the nib and refuses to flow - it's too thick. Just add water, a bit at a time, until the consistency is right and it flows properly. If you over-dilute, you'll end up with a puddle on the page! After a couple of disasters, you'll develop a feeling as to the correct dilution. I love this colour for its intensity and incredible covering power even when watered down considerably.

 

caliken

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/FlourishedGouache600.jpg

[JefferyS]

Wonderful calligraphy with gouache!

[bitterwonder]

Gouache is opaque and a body color.

I would not use in any pen.

Use with a brush.

[caliken]

Gouache is opaque and a body color.

I would not use in any pen.

Use with a brush.

The opacity and the resulting power of the colours, are the very things which attact me to using gouache. The nibs used for the above example were perfectly fine after washing.

 

Perhaps bitterwonder was referring to Gouache in fountain pens and there we certainly agree...not a good idea.

 

caliken

Edited June 15, 2011 by caliken

[Achim]

Thank you all for the help. I'll heed Ken's advice and dilute the gouache with water. Should be right when it reaches the consistency of Higgins Eternal which I've been using most up to now. Looking forward to my experiments seeing caliken's wonderful results!

[bitterwonder]

Gouache is opaque and a body color.

I would not use in any pen.

Use with a brush.

The opacity and the resulting power of the colours, are the very things which attact me to using gouache. The nibs used for the above example were perfectly fine after washing.

 

Perhaps bitterwonder was referring to Gouache in fountain pens and there we certainly agree...not a good idea.

 

caliken

Being a painter with a fast hand, I would probably have no use for gouche in a nib -

not much a fan of dip nibs and for my purposes - now, gouache works best with brush.

 

If anyone finds a way to make a medium work for them, great!

[caliken]

Here's an interesting blog on the subject

 

Dip pens and gouache

 

caliken

[sfb]

Hi Achim,

 

I had a go at using Gouache for some Copperplate a few weeks ago and wrote a post about it here:

 

http://thescribblingpost.blogspot.com/2011/04/experiments-in-gouache-for-mothers-day.html

 

There are some pictures of how it came out and a brief description of how I mixed it up if that helps. I think the main thing is just to play around with it until you find the consistency that works for you. I found using a dropper to add the water really helpful, as you can keep track of how much water you've added and replicate a similar consistency more easily the next time.

 

Sam

[Chevalier]

I simply dilute it until has the consistency of liquid cream, and then further, drop by drop, until it's just about right (the consistency is pretty close to milk). I love Schminke Horadam (or Calligraphy), but every other high pigment ink should be ok. I like Schminke because it has different pigment grades in every single color (3 to 5 star afair), giving the same nice "gouache ink" every time.

 

@Achim

Ich würde aber lieber destilliertes Wasser nehmen, je nach Wasserqualität zuhause. Das Wasser in D ist doch recht hart. Wenn ich z.B. an die Suppe in unserem Atelier denke, damit möchte man sich noch nicht mal die Hände waschen.