Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.18 PALE PINK

Pale Pink (No. 18) is a muted, milky-soft rose from Kuretake's Gansai Tambi series – handcrafted Japanese watercolours in solid pan form, based on water-soluble pigments. The colour is pigmented enough to be applied with depth, yet remains delicate and light in character: a tone that hovers between soft pastel shimmer and creamy white-rose. The pan can be activated with both soft round brushes and wide flat brushes.

Features

• Water-based pigment colour, handcrafted in Japan: Kuretake draws on over 100 years of experience in ink and colour production – the result is a creamy-soft consistency that spreads evenly on the brush without clumping.
• Coverage variable through water content: Little water → opaque, gouache-like surface; plenty of water → transparent, glazed layer. Pale Pink No. 18 works in both modes: as a velvety glaze tone for backgrounds as well as a covering pastel surface for illustrations.
• Large pan (approx. 48 × 28 mm): The above-average pan size allows the use of wide brushes without constantly scraping the edges – practical for broad colour applications and colour mixing directly in the pan.
• Pigment composition No. 18: SCARLET 215, PY3 (Arylid Yellow) and PW6 (Titanium White) – the white content gives the rose its paleness and pastel quality, while the combination of red and yellow pigments keeps the tone warm without becoming cool.
• Lightfast: As a pigment-based colour, Pale Pink is lightfast; with heavily diluted glazes, lightfastness naturally decreases.
• Reactivatable after drying: Dried colour in the pan can be reactivated at any time with water – no lid necessary.

Use & Tips

• Illustration & Botany: Pale Pink is ideal for cherry blossoms, rose petals and peony drawings – applied as a first light glaze under more intense rosé layers, the tone builds depth without overwhelming.
• Lettering & Calligraphy: Activated from the pan with a brush or brush pen, Pale Pink can be used for coloured lettering. On smooth, ink-resistant paper, the colour flows in cleanly without running.
• Mixing: Pale Pink works well with other Gansai Tambi tones. With a touch of coral rose (e.g. No. 17 Coral Pink) the tone becomes warmer; with a little more water and lavender blue, a delicate lilac pastel emerges.
• Sumi-e & Sketches: For quick sketches in the Asian traditional style, the pan can be worked directly with a damp brush – the creamy consistency releases colour immediately without prolonged soaking.
• Paper choice: On smooth, calendered paper, Pale Pink appears particularly delicate and even. On rough watercolour paper, the tone shows a slightly granulated texture, giving the ground more liveliness.

For Watercolour Enthusiasts

The pigment combination of SCARLET 215, PY3 and PW6 makes No. 18 Pale Pink an opaque pastel colour – the high white pigment content (PW6, Titanium White) is why this tone behaves differently from a transparent watercolour rose: it glazes less successfully one over the other than pure transparent colours, but covers cleanly over dry underlayers. Those wishing to glaze with Pale Pink work best with plenty of water and allow each layer to dry completely. The pan measures approx. 48 × 28 mm and contains around 9 g of colour – more volume than many standard half-pan formats, making the colour particularly economical.

Technical Specifications