Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.20 BLACK

Gansai Tambi No. 20 Black is a single watercolour paint from Kuretake's esteemed Japanese range – handcrafted and pressed in a generous pan format. This deep, absorbent black is based on water-soluble pigments and behaves quite differently depending on how much water you use: applied neat and concentrated, it looks opaque and rich like ink, whilst heavily diluted it reveals soft grey tones with gentle transitions. This versatility makes No. 20 Black one of the most adaptable colours in the entire Gansai Tambi range.

Features

• Water-soluble pigment colour: The black consists of water-based pigment bound in water-soluble synthetic resin – no gum arabic. This creates a creamy, soft consistency that's easy to pick up with a brush and spreads evenly.
• Opaque to transparent: Applied with little water, the colour covers strongly and richly – comparable to gouache. Diluted with plenty of water, it creates transparent grey glazes with velvety transitions. Both are possible with a single pan.
• Large pan format (approx. 4.5 × 2.5 cm): The wide surface allows you to use large round brushes and flat watercolour brushes – ideal for covering larger areas, backgrounds and broad brush strokes.
• Lightfast and non-toxic: The colour is lightfast as long as the water content remains moderate – with stronger dilution, lightfastness decreases. The pigment is non-toxic and suitable for professional use.
• Available as a single colour: No. 20 Black is available as an individual colour and can be integrated into existing Gansai Tambi palettes or custom-made sets.
• Made in Japan: Kuretake produces Gansai Tambi colours in Japan, drawing on over 100 years of experience in sumi ink manufacturing.

Use & Tips

• Illustration and manga: Used neat, No. 20 Black delivers precise, opaque lines and areas – an excellent choice for outlines, shading and solid black tones in illustration.
• Sumi-e and East Asian painting techniques: The ink-like depth of the black and fine grey gradations when diluted make this colour particularly well-suited to traditional sumi-e techniques, where tonal value is determined solely by water content.
• Watercolour backgrounds and wash techniques: As a heavily diluted glaze, you can create a neutral, cool grey – ideal as an underpainting, for cloud tones or atmospheric backgrounds.
• Mixing with other Gansai Tambi colours: Black mixes easily with other colours in the range to create dark, broken tones or to tone down vibrant colours.
• Calligraphy and lettering: On smooth, ink-resistant watercolour paper, the colour delivers clean edges and even coverage – suitable for brush lettering with broad watercolour or calligraphy brushes.
• Paper recommendation: On absorbent watercolour paper (200–300 g/m²), gradations and granulation develop particularly well. On very smooth paper, the colour dries more evenly and with crisp edges.

For Watercolour Enthusiasts

With Gansai Tambi colours, Kuretake brings together two traditions: Japanese sumi ink – where carbon and water-soluble binders create deep, intense tones – and the Western watercolour pan format with its broad, easily accessible surface. No. 20 Black stands right at this intersection: the pigment behaves almost like ink when concentrated, yet shows the soft, calligraphic qualities of a classic watercolour when diluted. Cracks that may appear on the pan surface in very dry conditions do not affect colour quality – a quick dampen with the brush reactivates the colour completely.

Technical Specifications