Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.861 GEM VIOLET

Gansai Tambi is Kuretake's traditional Japanese watercolour paint – pressed into a solid pan that dissolves smoothly and creamily with water. Gem Violet No. 861 belongs to the Gem colour range: a deep shimmering violet with a metallic-glittering character that glows iridescent on light paper and develops its full opacity and brilliance on dark grounds. The pigment is based on mica and distributed evenly through Kuretake's ultra-fine dispersion technology, creating silky colour transitions and a vibrant effect.

Features

• Metallic-shimmering gem violet: The mica pigment creates a deep, gemstone-like lustre – depending on paper colour and light, the colour impression shifts between iridescent violet on white and rich, intense shimmer on dark or black paper.
• Ultra-fine dispersion technology: Kuretake's pigment particles are exceptionally fine and evenly distributed. The result: the colour dissolves quickly and completely, flows smoothly from the brush and leaves no coarse particles in the application.
• Large pan (48 × 28 mm): The format is considerably more spacious than many other watercolour pans. Wide brushes, round brushes and watercolour brushes size 10 or larger can be used without catching on the pan edge.
• Lightfast pigments: The colour is lightfast – finished work retains its brilliance even with extended storage or display.
• Water-based and non-toxic: Suitable for open studio work at the desk or on the go, without solvent odour.
• Individually removable pan: The plastic pan can be removed from a Gansai Tambi palette and used individually or reordered as a replacement pan.

Use & Tips

• On dark paper: Gem Violet shows its metallic opacity most strongly on black or deep blue card. Light water, saturated brush – the colour sits opaque and glossy on the surface.
• On white watercolour paper: Diluted with more water, transparent iridescent glazes develop, ideal for sky gradations, butterfly wings or floral motifs.
• Calligraphy and brush lettering: The creamy consistency loads well into nibs and watercolour brush pens. On smooth, calendered paper, letter edges flow cleanly; on textured watercolour paper, lively, textured edges emerge.
• Sumi-e and illustration: As an accent colour in ink-based work, Gem Violet sets metallic highlights that blend elegantly with deep black or indigo.
• Combining with other Gem colours: Gem Violet can be mixed with Gem Blue (No. 860) and Gem Pink (No. 831) into graduated colour gradations without losing the metallic lustre.
• Reactivation: A dried pan can be fully reactivated with just a few drops of water – no scraping needed.

For Watercolour Enthusiasts

The Gem series pigment is based on mica – a natural layered mineral whose platelet-shaped particles don't simply absorb light, but reflect and refract it. This explains the characteristic interplay typical of Gem Violet: at shallow light angles, the colour appears cooler and lighter; with direct light it becomes deeper and richer. This behaviour fundamentally distinguishes mica-based watercolour paints from conventional transparent watercolour pigments. When mixing Gem Violet with wet, transparent watercolours, you can control the shimmer deliberately – the more conventional colour, the more restrained the metallic effect, the more the pure hue comes through.

Technical Specifications