Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.63 CERULEAN BLUE

Cerulean Blue (No. 63) is a medium, clear sky blue from the Gansai Tambi series by Kuretake – traditional Japanese watercolor paint in pan form, handcrafted with over a hundred years of experience in ink paint manufacturing. The color body dissolves quickly and evenly in water and allows for both opaque-powerful and transparent-light application. Pigment base: PB29 and PB15:3.

Highlights

• Above-average pigment density: The ratio of pigment to binder in Gansai colors is significantly higher than in Western watercolors – the color remains intense from wet to dry state and loses hardly any brilliance.
• Creamy-soft consistency: The paint cake dissolves with minimal water contact without crumbling or splintering. This enables direct, controlled brush application.
• Variable coverage: Applied directly from the pan and with little water, Cerulean Blue appears almost opaque like gouache; with more water, a transparent, cool glaze is created. The same pan allows both.
• Large pan format (48 × 28 mm): Wide brushes and calligraphy brushes can be used without damaging the bristles – the format is designed for traditional Japanese painting methods.
• Semi-glossy dry film: Gansai Tambi dries with a slight silk gloss that creates a vibrant, slightly three-dimensional impression on paper.
• Available individually: The pan can be inserted into existing Kuretake Gansai Tambi palettes or added as a single color to your own paint box.
• Non-toxic, AP-certified: The color meets international safety standards (ASTM AP seal) and is therefore safe even for intensive use in the studio.

Application & Tips

• Sky and water: The clear, medium blue Cerulean is particularly suitable for atmospheric sky areas – even large-scale, since the wide pan provides enough space for larger brushes.
• Wet-on-dry for control: Applied on dry paper, Cerulean Blue shows sharper edges and even coverage. For softer transitions, lightly dampen the surface before application.
• Mixability: PB29 (ultramarine-related) and PB15:3 (phthalocyanine blue) mix well with white or yellow tones from the same series without muddying quickly.
• Black and colored paper: Due to higher coverage capability, Cerulean Blue shows strong opacity even on dark-primed paper – interesting for mixed-media collages and illustrations.
• Sumi-e and illustration: The rapid dissolution in water and even flow make the color equally suitable for sketches, sumi-e-inspired work, and lettering.
• Layering note: When applying multiple layers, intermediate drying is recommended as the glycerin and wax-containing binder promotes re-dissolving of lower layers.

For Watercolor Enthusiasts

Gansai Tambi belongs to the category of traditional Japanese solid watercolors: the name combines "Gansai" (solid pigmented paint body) and "Tambi" (aesthetics). Kuretake's over one-hundred-year experience in sumi ink manufacturing flows into the consistency and flow behavior – the color behaves more controllably than Western watercolors, flows less on its own, and is therefore well-suited for precise brush guidance. No. 63 Cerulean Blue carries the pigment combination PB29 and PB15:3; both pigments are considered color-strong and are widespread in many professional watercolors. Kuretake does not provide an official lightfastness rating according to ASTM standards – this should be considered for archival purposes and exhibition work. For sketchbooks, illustration, and print reproductions, however, the color's luminosity is a clear advantage.

Technical Data