Kuretake Watercolor Gansai Tambi Granulating Colors 2

The Gansai Tambi Granulating Colors 2 is a 5-color watercolor set by Kuretake from Japan, based on a special granulating effect: each color contains multiple pigments of different particle sizes that separate from one another on wet paper, creating soft, dreamy color transitions and vibrant patterns. The five color tones – Cosmic Red, Cosmic Green, Cosmic Olive, Cosmic Blue, and Cosmic Violet – form a cool, atmospheric color world with a shimmering character. Handmade in Japan, the color pans sometimes show a slightly irregular surface, which is a natural characteristic of hand production.

Special Features

• Granulating effect through multi-pigment formula: Each color consists of multiple pigments with different particle sizes. On wet paper, they separate and settle unevenly – the result is organic, never identically repeatable patterns and color shifts.
• Water-dependent results: The amount, hardness, and type of water directly influence the granulating behavior. With plenty of water, pronounced color separations and extensive flows develop; little water creates more concentrated, texture-rich surfaces.
• Large color pans (48 × 28 mm): The generously oversized format allows the use of wider brushes and enables quick moistening of large quantities of color – practical for large-area watercolor work and backgrounds.
• Shimmering water-based pigments: The Cosmic color tones contain shimmering, water-based pigments that develop a slight gloss after drying and give the image a subtle pearl effect.
• Empty mixing palette included: The set includes an empty Gansai Tambi palette where colors can be pre-dissolved and combined with water – this further enhances the granulating effect.
• AP-certified and xylene-free: Complies with ASTM D 4236, ACMI AP-certified – without xylene additives.
• Handmade in Japan: Each color is hand-pressed in Japan; slight irregularities or small air bubbles on the surface are typical of production and do not affect the painting material.

Application & Tips

• Use granulation intentionally: First dissolve the color in the supplied empty palette with plenty of water and let it flow there – this creates the strongest color separations before the brush touches the paper.
• Paper greatly influences the result: Rough or cold-pressed surfaces enhance granulation because pigments collect in the paper valleys. On very smooth, calendered paper, the effect is softer and more even.
• Skies, water, and cosmic subjects: The Cosmic palette is particularly suitable for night and twilight scenes, galaxy representations, abstract backgrounds, and landscapes with atmospheric depth.
• Calligraphy and lettering: Applied with a pointed brush or writing pen on smooth watercolor paper, letterforms emerge with lively color transitions within individual strokes.
• Mixing with other Gansai Tambi colors: The Cosmic tones can be combined with other colors from the Gansai Tambi series; mixing two granulating colors creates even more complex separation patterns.
• Re-moistening is easy: Dried colors dissolve immediately with a damp brush – the set is travel-friendly and ready to use without preparation time.

For Watercolor Enthusiasts

The granulating colors by Gansai Tambi work on the principle of pigment separation: each color is a multi-pigment blend where individual pigments have different weights and sizes. On wet paper, lighter particles travel farther while heavier ones settle sooner – this creates the typical cloudy, granular structures. Water hardness plays a measurable role here: hard water with high mineral content can enhance granulation, while soft distilled water provides more even transitions. For documentation purposes: Gansai Tambi colors are considered not document-permanent, as no information about lightfastness of the pigments used is provided – this should be considered for archival work.

Technical Data