In this book, gouache, a classic technique--used by Turner, Toulouse-Lautrec, Bonnard, Picasso, Gris, Braque, Matisse and Miro, among many others--often compared to watercolor, acquires a new dimension, as it offers a bolder approach to contemporary artists, illustrators and graphic designers. The author erases the boundaries between 'proper painting' and the spontaneous charm of watercolor, combining the advantages of both techniques. Diluted, gouache is almost like watercolor, but when used on its own, it can be applied in opaque layers with a matte surface reminiscent of pastels. Soluble in water, it is rather forgiving and allows for corrections and revisions, and finally, the fine grain of the pigment it contains makes detailed drawings possible. Award-winning illustrator and art teacher Aljoscha Blau shares his many years of experience, offers material recommendations, tips for swift success, suggestions on composition, the use of color, tools and processes. And he spices it all up with his own illustrations, which are both an incentive and a feast for the eyes...