Gouache

Techniques for Etching Stainless Steel

Etching stainless steel is done for a variety of reasons including the creation of prints, decorations and personalization. The etching process is the result of a chemical reaction that removes a layer of steel in the exposed area of a chemically coated steel plate.

Faux Etching Techniques With Gouache

Etchings traditionally use a metal plate which is scribed with a sharp point or etched with acid to produce a design or illustration. This plate is used to make prints called etchings. This process is difficult to learn and expensive. Faux etchings duplicate the effect of an etching but use other substances which are cheaper and easier to work with; instead of requiring specialist tools, they can be scribed with a sharp blade. This process is called scratch printing.

Gouache (pronounced "gwash") is a contemporary paint that is particularly popular with book illustrators and commercial artists due to its vibrant colors and smooth texture. Gouache, like watercolor, is water-based, though it differs from watercolor in that it is thicker and appears more opaque and richer when it is dry (similar to acrylic paint). Gouache is very versatile, and there are many techniques that painters can use with gouache paints to evoke different effects in their work.

While it's not as well known as other types of paint such as oil, acrylic and watercolor, gouache is a fun and versatile medium. Like acrylics, gouache produces rich, opaque colors that can be mixed or layered over one another. Gouache particularly convenient to use while traveling because, like watercolors, only a small amount is required, and the paint can be dried into cakes and rehydrated for use at any time. If you make a gouache kit like this, you can easily carry it with you to use for painting in a sketchbook or other portable project.