Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.90 GOLD

Gansai Tambi No.90 Gold is a handcrafted watercolor block by Kuretake from Japan – a shimmering, warm-toned gold color on pigment-water base that oscillates between opaque-saturated gold tone and luminous, transparent shimmer depending on water application. The large pan in 48 × 28 mm format dissolves quickly on a wet brush and releases color evenly – creamy, smooth, without graininess. "Gansai" refers to a solid color pressed from pigments, "Tambi" stands for aesthetics: the line traces back over a hundred years of Japanese color tradition and was developed in Nara.

Special Features

• Shimmering gold pigment: No.90 Gold contains metallically lustrous micropigments that create a warm, golden light reflection on both light and dark paper – from delicate gold shimmer in glazing to opaque, glossy coverage with minimal water.
• Variable opacity: With little water, the color behaves almost opaque like gouache; heavily diluted creates a transparent, luminescent glaze. Both application modes are possible with the same pan, without refilling or mixing.
• Creamy-soft consistency: The binder based on Japanese color traditions creates a smooth, lump-free surface in the pan – the wet brush picks up the color quickly without softening or damaging the pan.
• Oversized pan (48 × 28 mm): The surface is large enough for wide watercolor brushes and round brushes up to size 12 without bending the bristles during working. Large backgrounds can be applied as easily as fine lines.
• Individual pans for refilling or single use: The color pan comes in its own plastic dish and can be inserted directly into an existing Gansai-Tambi palette or used as a standalone travel color.
• Non-toxic, water-based: No solvents, no "cadmium" or "cobalt" heavy metals – all corresponding color names in the series are color tone designations, not raw material specifications.

Application & Tips

• Calligraphy and brush lettering: No.90 Gold is suitable for brush lettering on dark paper or cardboard – wedding cards, invitations, lettering artwork. Wet the brush thoroughly, then work into the pan for 30–60 seconds until the color sits creamy on the brush.
• Illustration and watercolor painting: Applied as an accent color over dried watercolor layers, gold highlights contours, lights, and decorative details. Since the color shows a slight gloss after drying, it looks particularly striking on matte, rough watercolor papers.
• Sumi-e and Japanese-inspired painting: In the sumi-e tradition, gold accents are used sparingly – one or two brushstrokes are enough to enliven leaves, fish scales, or moonlight.
• Mixing recommendation: For glazing, it is advisable to dilute gold on a separate palette with water, not directly in the pan – excess water in the pan can cause the pressed color to crack when drying.
• Paper recommendation: On smooth, satin-finished paper or waterproof illustration board, the metallic shimmer shows most strongly. On highly absorbent cold-press paper, the gloss effect is duller; apply the opaque layer more thickly.
• Dark backgrounds: No.90 Gold is one of the few watercolors with sufficient opacity for black or deep blue primed paper – usable without pre-coating.

For Calligraphy and Lettering Enthusiasts

The Gansai-Tambi tradition is rooted in Japanese ink and ink production: Kuretake transfers knowledge about pigment binding derived from sumi-inkstick craftsmanship directly into watercolor – this explains the unusually clean spreadability and nearly grain-free color abrasion behavior. For calligraphy, this means: the color behaves on the nib (broad or pointed nib) when heavily diluted similarly to a fluid ink – the shimmer remains, the color does not run out. Pigment codes are traditionally not published by Kuretake; for archival long-term projects, a lightfastness test under real conditions is therefore recommended. For sketchbooks, cards, and illustrations that are not permanently exposed to light, No.90 Gold is a reliable choice.

Technical Data