Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.240 GRAPHITE YELLOW

Graphite Yellow is a single pan from the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Graphite Colours line – a colour family that combines graphite pigment with coloured pigments in a specific ratio. The result is a muted, deep yellow with a matte graphite finish that, after drying, becomes silky and metallic when gently rubbed on the surface. The colour is water-based, pressed into a creamy-soft consistency, and can be used directly with any brush by moistening.

Features

• Graphite pigment combination: Graphite Yellow is created from an optimised ratio of graphite and yellow pigment. The colour applies richly, dries completely matte – whilst retaining the characteristic, slightly metallic shimmer of graphite, which only appears when the dried surface is polished.
• Matte drying behaviour: Unlike classic Gansai Tambi shades, which dry semi-transparent and glossy, the Graphite Colours dry remarkably matte even with heavy application – with no reflective spots, no binder sheen.
• Variable coverage: Applied with little water, Graphite Yellow appears almost gouache-like in its opacity. When heavily diluted, it creates a transparent glaze yellow with visible graphite grain – both effects are present in a single colour.
• Large pan for broad brushes: The pan measures approximately 48 × 28 mm, offering significantly more surface area than standard half-pan watercolours. Wide watercolour brushes, fan brushes or brush holders with thick tips can be used directly without compromise.
• Available as a single colour: The pan is available as an individual colour and can be seamlessly added to existing Gansai Tambi palettes or assembled into custom sets.
• Made in Japan: Kuretake produces Gansai Tambi colours in Japan under strict quality control; colour depth and consistency are verified batch by batch.

Use & Tips

• Illustrations and urban sketching: Graphite Yellow is ideal for restrained, tonal colour accents in drawings – the muted yellow integrates into pencil and ink work without appearing dominant.
• Polishing technique: Fully dried surfaces can be polished with a soft cloth or fingernail – the graphite particles align and create a silky shimmer that can be used deliberately as a design tool.
• Paper: On smooth, waterproof paper (low absorbency), the graphite structure remains visible and polishes well. On more textured watercolour paper, the graphite grain settles into the depressions, creating a grainy, lively surface.
• Mixing: Graphite Yellow can be mixed with other Gansai Tambi shades. The graphite components remain visible and give mixed colours a muted, calm depth.
• Calligraphy and lettering: Applied with a wide, flat brush or hair brush, it creates warm, slightly iridescent lettering – the matte base tone with polishing potential is interesting for decorative script.
• Not archival: Gansai Tambi colours are water-based and not archival; the colour layer can be reactivated with water after drying. For archival work, fixation is recommended.

For Watercolour Enthusiasts

The Graphite Colours line works conceptually similarly to graphite watercolours: graphite as a pigment carrier is inherently not completely lightfast, and Kuretake does not publish pigment codes for the colour pigments used – making precise lightfastness assessment per batch difficult. Anyone wishing to use Graphite Yellow in durable originals should conduct their own light exposure tests or use the colour for sketches, studies and work that is not permanently exposed to light. For sketchbooks, illustration and experimental mixed-media work, this muted yellow with graphite effect is an unusually versatile tone that works particularly well in combination with ink or printmaking backgrounds.

Technical Specifications