Tea with Kitty, an original by Cheri O'Brien

A Gouache on paper, matted and framed in black

Gouache (from the Italian guazzo, "water paint, splash") or bodycolor (the term preferred by art historians) is a type of paint consisting of pigment suspended in water. Gouache differs from watercolor in that the particles are larger, the ratio of pigment to water is much higher, and an additional, inert, white pigment such as chalk is also present. (Gum Arabic is also present as a binding agent just like in water colour.) This makes gouache heavier and more opaque, with greater reflective qualities.