Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.51 SAP GREEN LIGHT

Kuretake Gansai Tambi No. 51 Sap Green Light is a bright, fresh yellow-green – hand-poured in Japan in a generously sized pan. The colour is based on pigments (PY3, PY55, PG7) in a water-soluble binder and behaves differently from classical European watercolours: inherently opaque and intense, yet capable of dissolving into transparent glazes with plenty of water.

Features

• Traditional Japanese manufacture: Every pan is hand-poured in Japan – the result is a creamy-soft, even colour mass that dissolves directly and evenly with the brush.
• Large pan (48 × 28 mm): The unusually wide format allows full brush widths and swift working on large areas – no cautious scraping at tiny half-pans.
• Pigment-based, non-toxic, lightfast: The colour consists of water-based pigments (PY3, PY55, PG7). As long as it is not applied heavily diluted, lightfastness is retained – the more water, the more transparent, but also slightly less lightfast.
• Variable opacity: With little water, Sap Green Light produces a saturated green, slightly opaque application; with plenty of water, a delicate, transparent yellow-green wash emerges – both from the same pan.
• Highly mixable: The creamy-soft consistency allows clean mixing directly on the palette; transitions on damp paper flow smoothly and evenly into one another.
• Available individually: As a single colour, No. 51 can be targeted into an existing palette or replace a depleted pan from a set.

Use & Tips

• Botanical illustration: Sap Green Light works as a base tone for leaves, stems and delicate foliage – with plenty of water as a light background tone, undiluted as a rich shadow.
• Watercolour lettering and hand lettering: The colour flows evenly in a well-filled water brush and can also be used for brush calligraphy – the hue remains present even in thin strokes.
• Layering and glazing technique: Since already dried layers dissolve again with moisture, reworking creates flowing transitions. This requires some practice but opens up appealing colour gradations.
• Sumi-e and East Asian painting: Gansai colours stem from the same tradition as ink and sumi-e painting; No. 51 complements monochromatic ink drawings as a coloured accent wash.
• Paper recommendation: On smooth, ink-proof watercolour paper with sufficient weight (300 g/m²), the colour stays well on the surface and can still be shifted wet-in-wet. Thinner papers buckle more.
• Cleaning: The pan can be wiped with a damp cloth after use and dries ready for the next application – no additional care steps necessary.

For Watercolour Enthusiasts

The pigment profile of No. 51 consists of PY3 (Arylid Yellow G), PY55 and PG7 (Phthalocyanine Green) – a blend that produces a clear, yellowish-fresh green tone with excellent colour strength. PG7 is one of the most lightfast and pure-tone green pigments available; PY3 and PY55 shift the tone towards brightness and warmth. Compared to No. 53 Sap Green (with PY42 as an earthy component), No. 51 appears considerably fresher and less earthy – a direct spring or plant green without olive undertone. The water-soluble resin binder that Kuretake uses contributes to a slight surface sheen after drying, which supports the luminosity of the pigments.

Technical Specifications