Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.905 LIGHT GOLD

Light Gold No.905 is a metallic watercolour from Kuretake's Gansai Tambi line – handcrafted Japanese watercolour in an oversized pan that yields a silky, shimmering gold pigment with minimal water. The colour sits between solid covering gold and airy, luminous gold shimmer: lighter and more delicate than classic Gold No.90, with a soft, pearlescent sheen rather than heavy opulence. As a water-based pigment paint, it activates directly from the pan with a damp brush and works equally well on light or dark paper.

Features

• Metallic shimmer with pale gold tone: No.905 Light Gold produces a luminous champagne to gold shimmer on dark paper – ideal for fine light accents, highlights and embellishments where full covering gold would feel too heavy.
• Adjustable opacity: With minimal water and direct brush contact, the paint behaves opaquely like gouache; with more water, it creates a transparent, glazing gold veil. Coverage remains reliably visible even on black or deep blue paper.
• Large pan, creamy consistency: The 48 mm × 28 mm pan is significantly more generous than European half-pans and provides ample working surface for broad brushes and calligraphy hair brushes without damaging the bristles.
• Water-based pigment paint: The water-pigment formulation dissolves quickly and evenly, dries with a subtle gloss and mixes well with other Gansai Tambi colours.
• Non-toxic, AP-certified: The paint carries the AP Seal from ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and meets international safety standards.
• Available as individual refill: The pan fits existing Gansai Tambi palettes and works as a supplement or replacement.

Use & Tips

• Calligraphy and brush lettering: Light Gold performs beautifully with broad hair brushes and calligraphy pens. On black or deep watercolour paper, it creates clean, shimmering letterforms – without the weight of gold leaf.
• Watercolour highlights and light accents: Applied as a final layer over dried watercolours, Light Gold sets precise highlights – on water, hair, metal or jewellery in illustrations.
• Sumi-e and Asian painting techniques: The traditional Gansai formula suits Sumi-e paper and smooth MD-like papers as readily as rough watercolour papers; the pigment shows particularly clear, even gradations there.
• Mixed media: On dark card, coloured paper or primed canvas, Light Gold covers reliably. For collage projects, Kuretake recommends fixing the paint with mounting spray or combining it with animal glue before adhering.
• Mixing behaviour: Light Gold can be combined with other Gansai Tambi tones to create warm pearlescent mixes – such as with white for pale champagne gold, or with ochre tones for warmer brass gold.
• Paper recommendation: On waterfast watercolour paper with rough or slightly textured surfaces, the metallic shimmer stands out most; on very smooth, calendered paper, the paint flows more broadly and creates a more even mirror effect.

For Calligraphy Enthusiasts

Gansai Tambi metallic colours are handcrafted in Japan using over 100 years of Sumi ink tradition – the technology for even pigment distribution and controlled flow comes directly from ink-making craft. Light Gold No.905 contains pearl lustre pigments that create a different optical effect than simple bronze powder: the shimmer varies depending on viewing angle and light, which looks particularly lively in flowing calligraphic letterforms. For brush calligraphy on dark paper, a brush with good tip snap is recommended so the paint doesn't flow too broadly – the creamy Gansai consistency keeps pigment particles in suspension as long as the pan remains moist.

Technical Specifications