Jelly gouache was invented in China to serve a specific niche: the entrance exams for art schools in China.
These exams have several key characteristics:
- Limited Time: Candidates have only a few hours to create a finished piece on a given topic.
- No Prior Preparation: They don’t have time to set up a palette, squeeze paint from tubes, or mix colours in advance.
- Intensive Colour Work: They are expected to demonstrate skills in colour, composition, and technique quickly and effectively.
Traditional gouache in tubes is slower to prepare. A student must squeeze each color onto a palette, be careful with the amount, and then the palette needs to be cleaned. This process takes up valuable minutes during an exam.
MIYA’s solution was to change not so much the paint formula itself, but the way it is stored and used:
- Consistency: The paint has a higher humectant content, which gives it a gel-like texture. This keeps it constantly moist and ready to use.
- Individual Cups (Jelly Cups): Instead of tubes, each color is placed in a plastic cup. This allows the artist to dip their brush directly into the needed color without using a palette, speeding up the painting process.
- Airtight Palette Case: The cups are arranged in a sturdy plastic case with a lid that has a rubber seal. This keeps the paints moist while the set is closed.
