In art, a form of watercolor that uses opaque pigments rather than the usual transparent watercolor pigments. Gouache colors are produced by adding white pigment to regular watercolor paint. Although gouache lacks the delicate luminosity of regular (aquarelle) watercolor, it possesses a compensating substance and body approaching that of oil paint. In addition, the tendency of gouache colors to lighten on drying makes possible a wide range of pearly or pastel-like effects. Gouache was first employed by the ancient Egyptians, who used honey to bind their pigments. 

Gouache was widely used in the Middle Ages for illuminated manuscripts, and it became particularly popular in the 18th century, when the French painter François Boucher was an acknowledged master at exploiting its mother-of-pearl quality. Gouache has been widely used in the 20th century by artists who find its thick impasto (heavy paint layer) ideal for modern expressionist effects.

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"Gouache," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.