Watercolor is pigments + Gum Arabic, Gouache is also pigments + Gum Arabic, Acrylic is Pigments + Acrylic Polymer, Oil paint is Pigments + Linseed oil, and finally, Gansai is Pigments + a combo of Animal Hide Glue, Starch, Gum Arabic, Beeswax, Sugar Syrup, Sugar and/or Glycerin. The Pans for Gansai is bigger because of the Gansai brushes. they do not snap back to its original form when used. So to protect the brushes the pans is sized up for them. You twirl the Gansai brushes in the pan to keep the shape. That is what I have learned. Please share if there are other explanations.
Sorry about the earlier video review. There was wrong information so I had to replace it with this updated review. 470 have already watched the earlier one though. Oops. :-P
Can you compare Holbein Artist Watercolor tube vs pan ? I use both of them, I do see the different. but Idk if that because the price or not (cause pan is far more expensive).
I'm really glad to see this comparison, it might be the only one on CZcams. I didn't expected to be so much of a difference between the colors, but actually I feel like I like Kissho's colors better than the Kuretake gansai. Now I'm curious to try them out for myself! 🖌
+Sadie Saves the Day Kissho colours do have that little something special because of their ability to create hard edges. But it's also something else that is difficult to explain. Also the paints are slightly more granular. That could be it.
Teoh, those raggity water blossom marks have nothing to do with the quality of paint. It is because you used an excessive amount of water in your brush when you laid in your wash. As the water began to dry the edges began to dry faster than the interior of each wash. Towards the end of the drying process when there was a smaller puddle of water remaining towards the middle of the puddles the drier edges began to try soaking up some of the liquid that was still remaining towards the middle of the puddle. As the drier edges of the paper tried to equalize the moisture the dry part of the papersucked in more water and along with that water came more pigment hence the darker, heavier deposit of that excessive pigment that formed the "ring" around the wetter puddle. To prevent this from happening you will have to control the amount of water you load your brush with before you lay in your paint by either scraping the brush tip over the edge of your paint pan or tapping it lightly on a tissue or rag before applying the paint to remove some of the excess water from your brush. or pick up your paper and tilt it to recoat the wetted area so the entire wash area is EVENLY coated with liquid. The brush you were using may have released too much liquid or you pressed too hard when applying the paint tht caused the brush to "dump" it's payload so suddenly. That is one reason why watercolourists like to use sables, sables hold onto the water better and gives a more controlled "release".
I just purchased a set of Kuretake Gansai Tambi. In experimenting with them, I am getting the hard edges but using hot press paper. Thanks to your information and before I get totally frustrated, I will experiment with cold press to see if the hard edges are less noticeable. I like the large pans and thanks for showing the pan size difference between Kissho and American half pans. Love your art work.
Before I watch this video, I would like to say thank you Teoh for doing this review! Unfortunately I already made my choice months before, and I had lots of difficulty making a decision because of the lack of information comparing the two. So many thanks for also reviewing these lesser known products, and please keep doing the wonderful work you're doing!!! And greetings from Australia!
Bonnie Hall I just found out they are not :(. They are made from glue from the fat of animals, if I have it right. So is most other Gansai paints, as they are a different medium. Best to stick to gum Arabic based paints.
jeepers creepers Link me? I just want to be sure myself, Internet and all, Id really appreciate it if you could give me the page so I could confirm for myself.
@@Phenrex www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2017/03/08/art-supplies-animal-ingredients/ here's a blog about it. There are also a few other results if you look for it. Sorry I didn't respond sooner CZcams didn't notify me.
Gilberto De Jesus Santos alas i cant say i know much. My comment was just an observation based on the composition of the two different solvents. Ink in pens needs solvents that promote rapid drying (alcohols) versus the water plus binder (gum arabic? Honey? Etc) plus pigment in the watercolor
Nika Boyce i got you. It's just an aim i have to learn these indian-tibetan colors making or even purchasing. the gansai watercolors are approprieted to rice paper. They have a different formulation based on other binders that are not arabic gum but i dont have the answer for it too. Anyway, it's at least available on the market. Different from the indian/tibetan ones that is a complete secret at now. What is a pityful! I think when one denies the knowledge to others, the flux of learning and progress is blocked totally. Thank you!💋💋💋
I was thinking along similar lines, as far as ink resisting the paint. But it may not be alcohol, once the ink dries, the alcohol has evaporated and is gone. But some types of inks are oil based or shellac based. Both of which would resist water after they''re dry. And i wonder if the pigments in the ink could repel water too.
Oh, but I don't think the ink is what caused the kissho watercolor to form hard edges. I think that has to do with the quality of the binders and pigments, paper is absorbent and works on a scientific principle called capillary action, where the wood fibers act like straws and suck in the paint. If you dip a wet paper towel in black ink, the ink will creep up the paper towel. Low quality inks/paints will start to seperate into seperate pigments as they travel into the paper, so you'll get an ombré effect that starts black and ends up pale plus, pink, purple, or orange. That's becasue different pigments and binders have different molecular sizes and weights, so some of them can move farther than others. Cheap paints, inks, etc, will use combinations of cheaper pigments and binders with various molecular sizes, and higher quality ones tend to use a single pigment. (Basically cheaper watercolors might use a pricey pigment, but dilute it with a cheaper one to chat costs, or they'll combine several cheap pigments to approximate a single pricier pigment)
Wow the Kissho looks great for card-making! I haven't heard of it till now. I only got the Akshiya Sai that looks exactly like Kuretake's. Kuretake looks more dull but still absolutely beautiful! Very very harmonious.
Thank you for review them, both of them is amazing ! Many people in my place start with a set of Gansai Tambi 36 because the price and more lively than Whitenight. And continue with Kisso Gansai for more color range 48 and 72 include pastel tones. Kisso also offer 3 size : half pan, full pan and giant round pans. A full of 72 is a gigantic set for outdoor painting. They are also not difficult to find in my country, a lot of online art supply sellers stored them or ordered them from many china and japan sources.
Thorough review as always, Teoh! :) My understanding is that these sets are most suitable for sumi-e/ink wash style painting which might be where there is a preference for dark colors to be strong and light colors to have that soft, pastel quality. These paintings usually use limited colors if at all and don't involve a lot of layering. The subject matter is also meant to be quite simple, typically nature, with an emphasis on one element (animals/flowers). Of course you can use them as you like, it's just paint after all. But as you noted- it depends on preference. I'd love to know your thoughts on more "standard" (?) watercolors from Japan. I've been using Holbein colors and think they are lovely. They are artist quality but I find them relatively affordable and the 12-color set has a great variety. It would be great to know how they compare to your favorites!
Great review, Teoh! I have the set of 36 Kuretake Gansai Tambi, which I use for my little doodles in my journal. Since it's my first watercolor set, the colors are bright to me. It was great to see the comparison of other watercolor paintings to see that color difference.
Nice review! I have Kuretaki Gansai Tambi with 36 colours. They are definitely different from European watercolours, like Van Gogh but the quality is equally good.
Thank you Teoh, for this comparison. I think that what is happening with the Kissho is that your pencilmarks push the paint away. Like water resisting Oil. I have the same issue with my Inktense pencils and some of my watercolors as well. I love painting with the Gansai Tambi. I will give the Kissho a try too. Thanks again. Always a pleasure to watch your video’s.
Hi Teoh, Thank you so much for the review and quick painting and sharing your sketches with us. You inspire me each time I watch you, you always seem to teach something new. I love your tips. Once again thank you for taking your time to share with us.
Thank you for the comparison. Your sketches shown in this video are all painted with Kissho. Do you have any examples of sketches coloured with the Kuretake?
Thanks for the review :) The Gansai Tambi is really popular among cardmakers/scrapbookers at one point and I was wondering what you thought about them. Definitely skipping these since I prefer vibrant colors. XD
Earlier this year I got the 36 set of Kuretake Watercolors. So glad I did, since it has a fewgreat metallic paints compared to the smaller sets. Kuretake is quite opaque though, compared to other paints I own. Enjoyed watching your video :)
Teoh, Do the full pans of the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors fit into the plastic travel palette of the Kissho Gansai? Also, can you tell me why the paints seemed to repel from the lines on your color comparison as you were applying the paint? Thank you for doing this review, I was really surprised to see how much the Kissho's dulled down.
+corikay The Kuretake pans can fit in the Kissho palette. I'm not sure why the paint repels from the lines. It only happens for this Daler Rowney Aquafine paper. Other paper are fine. It's weird.
Hi Yi Chie, I know it may sound a little strange but I'm wondering, commparing the Kuretake Gansai Tambi and a Winsor and Newton box set, which is better? Apart from the fact that W & N is more portable? I'm planning to do some character illustration.
Excellent review. I really enjoyed this and learned a lot about Japanese watercolours. I have been given a set of Kuretake and since I usually do quite muted work with Winsor and Newton, I'm looking forward to something different. Vibrant, flat washes here I come! Your sketches are very good, by the way.
Thank you so much for this video))/ I was happy to know sometimes you used our Russian watercolours "White Nights" . I wish you many many happyness and a lot of inspirations in your wonderful art. Good luck!))
In your 1st swatches the 4 reds look like Cadmium Red Medium, Pyrrol Red, Alizarin Crimson and a possible Rose or Cadmium Red Light(?), though I'm very unsure of the last one. Great video. Thank you!
I read that those Gansais are supposed to be used on rice paper, not the regular water colour paper most would use. I wonder if they'd react different, e.g. not causing harsh lines as the Kissho one does 🤔? I really am wondering if I should get one of those Kuretake sets - my curious nose just keeps ITCHING like crazy. I know, they're not super light-fast or something, but I like that those are actually supposed to be vegan and I wonder if I could learn some gansai specific techniques and might actually like them :) P.S. my curiosity just won all over again ^^' and my 24 set of Kuretakes just arrived straight from Japan :) I wish there were actual pigment information, claiming that they only use non-toxic heavy metals got me somewhat confused.
hi teoh! I love all your reviews. very detailed and helpful. I was wondering if you have ever used liquid watercolors like ecoline or Dr. Ph. Martins? I would love to see a review on one of those. keep up the good work!
I really like your reviews. I've painted already a few pieces with watercolors and now I'm looking for some better quality watercolors(till now I use some cheap watercolors from ikea) and I can't decide between winsor&newton cotman set and Kuretake gansai tambi set. Which one would you choose? Which one is better? And are kuretake easy to layer?
+Niutka Lee Kuretake is more chalky and not as transparent. Not good for layering. However, there are some WN paints that are also not transparent. I prefer WN if the box can be reused in the future.
It is probably wrong to call Gansai as japanese "watercolor", just like the chinese "watercolor". They are not all transparent, to say the least. Just curious, between the japanese and the chinese variants, which one do you think is closer to the "western" watercolor?
I used the Kissho Gansai 36 colour watercolours. I needed to varnish the painting it as it was for a banner and needed protection against light rain. I waited 24hrs but when I applied varnish, the whole painting smudged. I will have to experiment- maybe 48hrs would cure or one week or....no information on drying times anywhere.
Great review! So very informative and thorough, I really enjoy waching your videos! Quite some times lately, I have been wondering about something about watercolours, I have actually found the answer from you! And this time I was wondering about Kissho and Kuretake. They are not available in Skandinavia/Northern Europe, I think, but I was thinking to maybe order one of them from internet. Thank you so much for making all your fantastic videos! I think you are a true Watercolour Art Guru!! : )
Hi Teoh. As I understand, "typical" watercolours are created with pigments and arabig gum (vegetal product). Instead, traditional gansai pans are created with several components, including gum (vegetal and animal), beewax and others. I have two questions: - Traditional Gansai, as a medium, behaves differently from what we know as "typical" watercolour, due to the components? - Kissho and Kuretake are traditional gansai or they are using a modern formula to behave more like typical watercolours? Also, I have read some complaints about difficulties in mixing colours using Kuretake gansai. Have you tested the mixing? Thanks
+O i Kissho and Kuretake do feel different from western watercolour. They are more opaque so their mixtures is not as transparent, and perhaps more prone to getting Muddy mixtures. You really have to know the colours well to get vibrant mixtures. Check out my text review www.parkablogs.com/picture/review-kissho-gansai-watercolor-review-18-half-pan-set
Hi what would you recommend out of all the paints you have used. I am looking for at least 12 paints preferably one black and one white and for them to be vibrant and not pastally. My budget is £30 ($40 USD) Thanks in advance!
umm Hi ...sorry if I am being annoying commenting everywhere XD ...umm so I have a question ..which is better the Winsor and newton cotman or the Kuretake gansai Tambi ...Thanks in advance XD
Hi, dunno if you'd read this comment in this 3 year old video but just want to ask, do you know any other watercolor brand that can produce hard edges like this, but more transparent? I remember 15 or so years ago I used to use school grade Sakura (not the current Sakura-Koi) that was like that (hard edges and transparent, but with less granulation) but I can't find them anymore. Been looking for replacement but no luck yet.
I really love the watercolor box, but I'm not sure I want to get Kissho watercolors because of that hard edge effect. I already have a Kuretake Gansai Tambi set of 6 that included a brush pen and a watercolor brush. Japanese watercolors have quite a different feel and look to them, I feel. Also, I like how you added the pencil for the texture in your sketch.
+Teoh Yi Chie hmm... yes Thats true. The 6 pan set is reasonable but doesn't have a mixing area, which is kind of annoying to me. I mostly only use them at home anyways, so it is ok. I like that there is more room for putting your brush into the pan. I have been using larger paper lately. I even did a painting this week that was 18 by 24 inches. How do these pans compare to the St. Petersburg's White Nights?
My friend got me a Gansai set during her trip to Japan that has 96 colours. I’ve never seen them being sold anywhere online or in shops. The most is usually 40+ colours 🙈 I dread the day I finish using them. 🥺🥺🥺
Teoh - Thank you for the swatching of the Kissho set. Now that much time has passed, have you noticed how well they are lightfast or not? I’ve learned recently that the Kuretake I had wanted for months had several colors fail a 1 yr lightfast test, and I like to avoid sets like that.
I did not test them for lightfast. If you require lightfast, it's best to go with reliable pigments. These gansai tambi paint should be alright in sketchbooks.
Sadie Saves the Day channel gives a very detailed description as to what Gansai is and the binders used in the pigments. If you're interested I'd check out her video. What is Gansai | Watercolor 101 czcams.com/video/TggB7IASBJs/video.html
I cannot locate an English translation guide for the Kuretake Gansai Tambi 36 watercolor set. Perhaps someone can direct me towards this information. I know it's available but I can't find it. TIA
Thank you for this video, I saw Kuretake watercolor set in our local art shop and they are relatively cheap, so I was looking for a review, wondering, how will they look on the paper. I think I will not buy them, as they are too pastel for me. I have Umton and Van Gogh paints now, both of them are quite cheap and much more vibrant. Thanks a lot. :)
Ruchie try on rice paper! Japanese and Chinese colours are meant for very absorbent paper. After whatever is in it seeps through the rice paper, the pigment left on the rice paper will look vibrant! I remember seeing a Chinese artist paint from the back of the rice paper, and the colour shows up gorgeous in front. Conversely, if you use western watercolours on rice paper, the colours will disappear.
Hi, I was wondering, can you recommend any tins that can fit the Kuretake Gansai pans other than the Kissho? I'm planning on buying the Kuretake but I am hesitant because of this.
Hi, I really enjoyed your videos. Can I ask your opinion on the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolour Paints vs the winsor and newton cotman half pan? Thanks.
Hi Teoh, thanks again for your reviews, they are very great and helpful! Do you know anything about this brand: Bianyo 36 Watercolor Paint Set ? Thanks!
From what I can see on Amazon, it looks like watercolour paint for kids to play around. If you want to get a beginner watercolour set, check out this post www.parkablogs.com/content/best-watercolor-sets-beginners
Blissfulthings This is late but traditionally washi paper is used with gansai, mounted on top of a wood board and the paints are used with just enough water to activate them without making them too runny. Rice paper works well too, and a lot of people nowadays use other kinds of mixed media paper so watercolour paper is fine. Considering the fact that washi paper is very smooth, I'd think hot press watercolour paper would work very well too.
im thinking to upgrade my cotman color section with another brand, because i wanted to try another brand to work with and more color variations. Do you have an advice about some brand for me to choose?
+Deira Rizkia You can just upgrade to the artist quality Winsor and Newton. Or just get whatever artist grade paints near your art store so that you can replace them easily when you run out.
Teoh Yi Chie i'll try some tube of the artist grade Winsor and Newton or QoR further! Cant wait to try some. Thank you so much for the advice and review!
They are both comparable. I don't think better is the right more, more like different. If you're on budget, Gansai Tambi may be a bit cheaper because their pans are huge
Great review, learn some important facts. I've been wondering what these paints were exactly. On one of the comments on "thefrugalcrafter" someone explained these were a different kind of pigment. Not a pigment but a mineral? Just curios about this.
+Gail Gassen Pigment is the mineral that provides the colour. They are extracted from stones and minerals. The main difference between this and other paints is the binder.
hello, I was wondering if you have tried the Karetake transparent watercolor. I would like a comparison to the karetake gansai tambi watercolor. I see there are no full pans of the transparent ones.
yes, there is a plastic paint box called kuretake taransparent. it says it's natural pigments. It would be nice to have a comparison video. it seems it only comes in the travel paint box.
thank you for all the videos you do! i have learned so much from you over the years! how is the baby doing? we need an update lol have a great day! my daughter is having a second baby , in addition to my 7 year old grand daughter were so happy! i am painting all the baby forest animals and a forest mural for the nursery , i can't wait
Hi I’ve just bought komorebi metallic full pans. They are big. In japan can you get tins to keep the full pans in? The packaging is cardboard. Can’t find anything in uk. X
Watercolor is pigments + Gum Arabic,
Gouache is also pigments + Gum Arabic,
Acrylic is Pigments + Acrylic Polymer,
Oil paint is Pigments + Linseed oil, and finally,
Gansai is Pigments + a combo of Animal Hide Glue, Starch, Gum Arabic, Beeswax, Sugar Syrup, Sugar and/or Glycerin.
The Pans for Gansai is bigger because of the Gansai brushes. they do not snap back to its original form when used. So to protect the brushes the pans is sized up for them. You twirl the Gansai brushes in the pan to keep the shape. That is what I have learned. Please share if there are other explanations.
Thanks for the info :-)
I always enjoy your channel, they are very informative, thank you..
I guess u watched sadies saves day
As I know the main ingredient for good quality gouaches is dextrin.
No thanks to any product that uses animal anything. Animal hide glue?
I'm so happy I bought the Kuretake Gansai Tambi set. I love how these japanese watercolor sets have large size pans compared to other brands.
how was your experience with kuratake?
Macario 438 idk about op BUT i love mine. They are very pigmented and easy to use and they dont dry easily at all for me
Sorry about the earlier video review. There was wrong information so I had to replace it with this updated review. 470 have already watched the earlier one though. Oops. :-P
Can you compare Holbein Artist Watercolor tube vs pan ? I use both of them, I do see the different. but Idk if that because the price or not (cause pan is far more expensive).
It's okay. You're human, it happens. That's why they're called "mistakes" and not: on purposes' :)
I'm really glad to see this comparison, it might be the only one on CZcams. I didn't expected to be so much of a difference between the colors, but actually I feel like I like Kissho's colors better than the Kuretake gansai. Now I'm curious to try them out for myself! 🖌
+Sadie Saves the Day Kissho colours do have that little something special because of their ability to create hard edges. But it's also something else that is difficult to explain. Also the paints are slightly more granular. That could be it.
+Teoh Yi Chie Now that you mention it, I do think that it is the granulation, it gives it a little extra something!
same thoughts as me Sadie...thank you for posting...Janis
The little empty dot he leaves at 8:29 makes me irrationally anxious.
Why would you do this to me I'm crying now ahdhsjanansnd
then wouldn't it also bother you that he goes outside the lines all the time?
@@recoveringsoul755 ummm it isn't actually to just fill the boxes but the was just testing the opacity of the watercolors
Happy Painting! :D
You have such a unique and beautiful style with your paintings. I love how they turn out.
+Bec M. Thanks 😁
Teoh, those raggity water blossom marks have nothing to do with the quality of paint. It is because you used an excessive amount of water in your brush when you laid in your wash. As the water began to dry the edges began to dry faster than the interior of each wash. Towards the end of the drying process when there was a smaller puddle of water remaining towards the middle of the puddles the drier edges began to try soaking up some of the liquid that was still remaining towards the middle of the puddle. As the drier edges of the paper tried to equalize the moisture the dry part of the papersucked in more water and along with that water came more pigment hence the darker, heavier deposit of that excessive pigment that formed the "ring" around the wetter puddle. To prevent this from happening you will have to control the amount of water you load your brush with before you lay in your paint by either scraping the brush tip over the edge of your paint pan or tapping it lightly on a tissue or rag before applying the paint to remove some of the excess water from your brush. or pick up your paper and tilt it to recoat the wetted area so the entire wash area is EVENLY coated with liquid. The brush you were using may have released too much liquid or you pressed too hard when applying the paint tht caused the brush to "dump" it's payload so suddenly. That is one reason why watercolourists like to use sables, sables hold onto the water better and gives a more controlled "release".
Quinacridone Rose: Wow! That was a very detailed and informative comment - thank you so much! I learned a lot. 😊
I just purchased a set of Kuretake Gansai Tambi. In experimenting with them, I am getting the hard edges but using hot press paper. Thanks to your information and before I get totally frustrated, I will experiment with cold press to see if the hard edges are less noticeable. I like the large pans and thanks for showing the pan size difference between Kissho and American half pans. Love your art work.
I just bought the Kuretake 48 color pallette in Amazon... your review is very informative... thank you nyo!
Before I watch this video, I would like to say thank you Teoh for doing this review! Unfortunately I already made my choice months before, and I had lots of difficulty making a decision because of the lack of information comparing the two. So many thanks for also reviewing these lesser known products, and please keep doing the wonderful work you're doing!!! And greetings from Australia!
Thanks. I hope whatever you got, you enjoy using them :-)
Your paintings are beautiful, you are so talented!
+Ginger Kirby Thanks 😁
Waiting for someone to compare these 2 brands. Thank you
I think Western watercolors use gum arabic for binder, but the Asian watercolors usually employ animal glue.
Karlo T I think kuretake is vegan
Bonnie Hall I just found out they are not :(. They are made from glue from the fat of animals, if I have it right. So is most other Gansai paints, as they are a different medium. Best to stick to gum Arabic based paints.
@@Phenrex they actually are vegan. Kuretake doesn't use animal products for their gansai paint.
jeepers creepers Link me? I just want to be sure myself, Internet and all, Id really appreciate it if you could give me the page so I could confirm for myself.
@@Phenrex www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2017/03/08/art-supplies-animal-ingredients/ here's a blog about it. There are also a few other results if you look for it. Sorry I didn't respond sooner CZcams didn't notify me.
The amazing thing about gansai and Asian watercolor is that they're vibrant and can stick with other papers like rice paper and silk.
yes i agree they are so vibrant on normal paper... beautiful
i just bought a set of kuretake watercolors and i love them!! the box is also very pretty and i love the watercolors
Perhaps that "hard edge" is a pigment resist process going on against the alcohol soaked into the paper from the ink of your lines.
Nika Boyce what u know about the facture of indian paints?
Thank you. Just want learn more.
Gilberto De Jesus Santos alas i cant say i know much. My comment was just an observation based on the composition of the two different solvents. Ink in pens needs solvents that promote rapid drying (alcohols) versus the water plus binder (gum arabic? Honey? Etc) plus pigment in the watercolor
Nika Boyce i got you. It's just an aim i have to learn these indian-tibetan colors making or even purchasing.
the gansai watercolors are approprieted to rice paper. They have a different formulation based on other binders that are not arabic gum but i dont have the answer for it too. Anyway, it's at least available on the market. Different from the indian/tibetan ones that is a complete secret at now. What is a pityful!
I think when one denies the knowledge to others, the flux of learning and progress is blocked totally.
Thank you!💋💋💋
I was thinking along similar lines, as far as ink resisting the paint. But it may not be alcohol, once the ink dries, the alcohol has evaporated and is gone. But some types of inks are oil based or shellac based. Both of which would resist water after they''re dry. And i wonder if the pigments in the ink could repel water too.
Oh, but I don't think the ink is what caused the kissho watercolor to form hard edges. I think that has to do with the quality of the binders and pigments, paper is absorbent and works on a scientific principle called capillary action, where the wood fibers act like straws and suck in the paint. If you dip a wet paper towel in black ink, the ink will creep up the paper towel. Low quality inks/paints will start to seperate into seperate pigments as they travel into the paper, so you'll get an ombré effect that starts black and ends up pale plus, pink, purple, or orange. That's becasue different pigments and binders have different molecular sizes and weights, so some of them can move farther than others. Cheap paints, inks, etc, will use combinations of cheaper pigments and binders with various molecular sizes, and higher quality ones tend to use a single pigment.
(Basically cheaper watercolors might use a pricey pigment, but dilute it with a cheaper one to chat costs, or they'll combine several cheap pigments to approximate a single pricier pigment)
Wow the Kissho looks great for card-making! I haven't heard of it till now. I only got the Akshiya Sai that looks exactly like Kuretake's.
Kuretake looks more dull but still absolutely beautiful! Very very harmonious.
Thank you for review them, both of them is amazing !
Many people in my place start with a set of Gansai Tambi 36 because the price and more lively than Whitenight. And continue with Kisso Gansai for more color range 48 and 72 include pastel tones. Kisso also offer 3 size : half pan, full pan and giant round pans. A full of 72 is a gigantic set for outdoor painting.
They are also not difficult to find in my country, a lot of online art supply sellers stored them or ordered them from many china and japan sources.
Thorough review as always, Teoh! :) My understanding is that these sets are most suitable for sumi-e/ink wash style painting which might be where there is a preference for dark colors to be strong and light colors to have that soft, pastel quality. These paintings usually use limited colors if at all and don't involve a lot of layering. The subject matter is also meant to be quite simple, typically nature, with an emphasis on one element (animals/flowers). Of course you can use them as you like, it's just paint after all. But as you noted- it depends on preference. I'd love to know your thoughts on more "standard" (?) watercolors from Japan. I've been using Holbein colors and think they are lovely. They are artist quality but I find them relatively affordable and the 12-color set has a great variety. It would be great to know how they compare to your favorites!
+imishinchou Holbein should be good. My friend loves the paint.
Great review, Teoh! I have the set of 36 Kuretake Gansai Tambi, which I use for my little doodles in my journal. Since it's my first watercolor set, the colors are bright to me. It was great to see the comparison of other watercolor paintings to see that color difference.
THanks :-)
Nice review! I have Kuretaki Gansai Tambi with 36 colours. They are definitely different from European watercolours, like Van Gogh but the quality is equally good.
Both give a muted or neutral quietness to the scene. I real liked it for the indoor scene.
Thank you Teoh, for this comparison. I think that what is happening with the Kissho is that your pencilmarks push the paint away. Like water resisting Oil. I have the same issue with my Inktense pencils and some of my watercolors as well. I love painting with the Gansai Tambi. I will give the Kissho a try too. Thanks again. Always a pleasure to watch your video’s.
I have used the Kuratake again and again and love them. It is more translucent or opaque when compared to western. But so good.
Hi Teoh,
Thank you so much for the review and quick painting and sharing your sketches with us. You inspire me each time I watch you, you always seem to teach something new. I love your tips. Once again thank you for taking your time to share with us.
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the video :-)
Thank you Teoh...lovely comparison...Janis...take good care!
Thank you for the comparison. Your sketches shown in this video are all painted with Kissho. Do you have any examples of sketches coloured with the Kuretake?
This was an awesome in depth review !! Extremely helpful :) Also, your paintings are amazing !
+Julia Fernandez Thanks 😁
You're so talented! I really want to learn how to watercolor soon!
Thanks you. Watercolor is fun. :-P
Thanks for the review :) The Gansai Tambi is really popular among cardmakers/scrapbookers at one point and I was wondering what you thought about them. Definitely skipping these since I prefer vibrant colors. XD
Earlier this year I got the 36 set of Kuretake Watercolors. So glad I did, since it has a fewgreat metallic paints compared to the smaller sets. Kuretake is quite opaque though, compared to other paints I own. Enjoyed watching your video :)
+TsukabuNosoratori2 Thanks 😁
thank you! very informative. I have recently ordered Kuretake watercolor and looking forward to try them :)
I love your review videos, they're so informative and thorough. Thank you for this!
Thanks (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
BeQui C i like ur photo 😶🏃♂️
your sketches are so simple yet so beautiful i love your work so much!!!!
+elaynuh Thanks 😊
Teoh, Do the full pans of the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors fit into the plastic travel palette of the Kissho Gansai? Also, can you tell me why the paints seemed to repel from the lines on your color comparison as you were applying the paint?
Thank you for doing this review, I was really surprised to see how much the Kissho's dulled down.
+corikay The Kuretake pans can fit in the Kissho palette.
I'm not sure why the paint repels from the lines. It only happens for this Daler Rowney Aquafine paper. Other paper are fine. It's weird.
thank you for the review, I have the 24 Kuretake and like them very much.
Your sketches are amazing.
Thank you for this video.
Teoh thank you for making this very informational video. I chose the Gansai Tambi and am very happy with them. :)
Always great videos with unbiased, clear information, examples and advice. Thank you very much for sharing :)
Thanks ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
You have another subscriber ;)
Hi Yi Chie, I know it may sound a little strange but I'm wondering, commparing the Kuretake Gansai Tambi and a Winsor and Newton box set, which is better? Apart from the fact that W & N is more portable? I'm planning to do some character illustration.
+Ying Reinhardt W&N paints are more transparent and easier to use.
I think that that hard edges is because of the pen you use, although i don't have a kissho gansai set but i have
similar effect with the gansai tambi
I used the same pen and paper for both colour charts.
Excellent review. I really enjoyed this and learned a lot about Japanese watercolours. I have been given a set of Kuretake and since I usually do quite muted work with Winsor and Newton, I'm looking forward to something different. Vibrant, flat washes here I come! Your sketches are very good, by the way.
+D She Thanks 😁
Thank you so much for this video))/ I was happy to know sometimes you used our Russian watercolours "White Nights" . I wish you many many happyness and a lot of inspirations in your wonderful art. Good luck!))
In your 1st swatches the 4 reds look like Cadmium Red Medium, Pyrrol Red, Alizarin Crimson and a possible Rose or Cadmium Red Light(?), though I'm very unsure of the last one. Great video. Thank you!
The pigments are moving away from the pen ink lines
I read that those Gansais are supposed to be used on rice paper, not the regular water colour paper most would use. I wonder if they'd react different, e.g. not causing harsh lines as the Kissho one does 🤔?
I really am wondering if I should get one of those Kuretake sets - my curious nose just keeps ITCHING like crazy. I know, they're not super light-fast or something, but I like that those are actually supposed to be vegan and I wonder if I could learn some gansai specific techniques and might actually like them :)
P.S. my curiosity just won all over again ^^' and my 24 set of Kuretakes just arrived straight from Japan :) I wish there were actual pigment information, claiming that they only use non-toxic heavy metals got me somewhat confused.
hi teoh! I love all your reviews. very detailed and helpful. I was wondering if you have ever used liquid watercolors like ecoline or Dr. Ph. Martins? I would love to see a review on one of those. keep up the good work!
+Qurious Qat I've not used those liquid watercolour before. Maybe in the future.
Good thing I have St Petersburg it's more vibrant!
Cons Bulaquena: I love St. Petersburg!!
Great comparison Teoh. The colors do look really pastel like when compared to other brands.
Your sketches are beautiful - thanks for your reviews.
Thank you :-D
13:00 that sketch looks wonderful 👏👏👏
Kuretake Is the best. I am building my collection. My number one choice in watercolors
I can’t speak for Kisshou, but Kuretake now use gum Arabic as a binder in their Gansai.
you're videos are always so helpful
Thanks :-D
you're very welcome
I really like your reviews. I've painted already a few pieces with watercolors and now I'm looking for some better quality watercolors(till now I use some cheap watercolors from ikea) and I can't decide between winsor&newton cotman set and Kuretake gansai tambi set. Which one would you choose? Which one is better? And are kuretake easy to layer?
+Niutka Lee Kuretake is more chalky and not as transparent. Not good for layering. However, there are some WN paints that are also not transparent. I prefer WN if the box can be reused in the future.
Teoh Yi Chie Thank you very much☺
It is probably wrong to call Gansai as japanese "watercolor", just like the chinese "watercolor". They are not all transparent, to say the least.
Just curious, between the japanese and the chinese variants, which one do you think is closer to the "western" watercolor?
I used the Kissho Gansai 36 colour watercolours. I needed to varnish the painting it as it was for a banner and needed protection against light rain. I waited 24hrs but when I applied varnish, the whole painting smudged. I will have to experiment- maybe 48hrs would cure or one week or....no information on drying times anywhere.
Test it on test pieces first before you apply varnish or fixative
Great review! So very informative and thorough, I really enjoy waching your videos! Quite some times lately, I have been wondering about something about watercolours, I have actually found the answer from you! And this time I was wondering about Kissho and Kuretake. They are not available in Skandinavia/Northern Europe, I think, but I was thinking to maybe order one of them from internet. Thank you so much for making all your fantastic videos! I think you are a true Watercolour Art Guru!! : )
+43110s You can get them on eBay. Just make sure to compare prices with other websites, such as Amazon USA and Japan.
Many thanks for the very helpful tip! : )
Great review! :) Your videos so helpful and informative! Thank you!
+Hasini de Silva Thanks
Great comparison, thank you for the review. 💞💫
Hi Teoh! I know I'm super late, but I'm wondering how the Kuretake colors mix together or are they more suitable for glazing?
They can be mixed. You just have to use the correct colours, eg transparent ones and those close to each other on the colour wheel
Thank you, this is what I am looking for
Your videos are so helpful!
Hi Teoh. As I understand, "typical" watercolours are created with pigments and arabig gum (vegetal product). Instead, traditional gansai pans are created with several components, including gum (vegetal and animal), beewax and others. I have two questions:
- Traditional Gansai, as a medium, behaves differently from what we know as "typical" watercolour, due to the components?
- Kissho and Kuretake are traditional gansai or they are using a modern formula to behave more like typical watercolours?
Also, I have read some complaints about difficulties in mixing colours using Kuretake gansai. Have you tested the mixing?
Thanks
+O i Kissho and Kuretake do feel different from western watercolour. They are more opaque so their mixtures is not as transparent, and perhaps more prone to getting Muddy mixtures. You really have to know the colours well to get vibrant mixtures. Check out my text review www.parkablogs.com/picture/review-kissho-gansai-watercolor-review-18-half-pan-set
I love your art style
+Usami with magic stick Thanks 😁
Teoh! I love that Pura Ulun sketch (I think that is what you have writen at the bottom). I am not sure why, but that one really jumped out at me.
+Nicholas Sheeler Thanks 😁
Hi what would you recommend out of all the paints you have used. I am looking for at least 12 paints preferably one black and one white and for them to be vibrant and not pastally. My budget is £30 ($40 USD) Thanks in advance!
umm Hi ...sorry if I am being annoying commenting everywhere XD ...umm so I have a question ..which is better the Winsor and newton cotman or the Kuretake gansai Tambi ...Thanks in advance XD
+Scarlet Black They feel quite different to use. Winsor Newton is probably better but only because I like the box more.
Teoh,you are awesome.....ENOUGH SAID!
Thank you ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ
Great review! I liked seeing the difference between the 2 Japanese paints.
I've just fallen in love with Kissho Gansai! So hard to get locally :(((
They can be found on eBay from Japanese sellers.
Hi, dunno if you'd read this comment in this 3 year old video but just want to ask, do you know any other watercolor brand that can produce hard edges like this, but more transparent? I remember 15 or so years ago I used to use school grade Sakura (not the current Sakura-Koi) that was like that (hard edges and transparent, but with less granulation) but I can't find them anymore. Been looking for replacement but no luck yet.
I really love the watercolor box, but I'm not sure I want to get Kissho watercolors because of that hard edge effect. I already have a Kuretake Gansai Tambi set of 6 that included a brush pen and a watercolor brush. Japanese watercolors have quite a different feel and look to them, I feel. Also, I like how you added the pencil for the texture in your sketch.
+Rebecca Nelson Thanks. I don't see any palette box for the Kuretake so making them portable will involve putting in boxes of other brands. 😁
+Teoh Yi Chie hmm... yes Thats true. The 6 pan set is reasonable but doesn't have a mixing area, which is kind of annoying to me. I mostly only use them at home anyways, so it is ok. I like that there is more room for putting your brush into the pan. I have been using larger paper lately. I even did a painting this week that was 18 by 24 inches. How do these pans compare to the St. Petersburg's White Nights?
+Rebecca Nelson White Nights paints are able to retain their vibrancy much better after mixing.
My friend got me a Gansai set during her trip to Japan that has 96 colours. I’ve never seen them being sold anywhere online or in shops. The most is usually 40+ colours 🙈 I dread the day I finish using them. 🥺🥺🥺
You could try to get refills or a new set in Amazon Japan. That's where I usually ship art supplies whenI don't live in Japan...
Love your videos!!
Thanks :-)
Teoh - Thank you for the swatching of the Kissho set. Now that much time has passed, have you noticed how well they are lightfast or not? I’ve learned recently that the Kuretake I had wanted for months had several colors fail a 1 yr lightfast test, and I like to avoid sets like that.
I did not test them for lightfast. If you require lightfast, it's best to go with reliable pigments.
These gansai tambi paint should be alright in sketchbooks.
@@teohyc thank you 🙏🏼 - I enjoy following your work!
Great colors!
Sadie Saves the Day channel gives a very detailed description as to what Gansai is and the binders used in the pigments. If you're interested I'd check out her video.
What is Gansai | Watercolor 101
czcams.com/video/TggB7IASBJs/video.html
I cannot locate an English translation guide for the Kuretake Gansai Tambi 36 watercolor set. Perhaps someone can direct me towards this information. I know it's available but I can't find it. TIA
Hi there! It’s been some time, do u have any feedback or updates on the colour fastness? :)
Thanks for the review :) i was wondering whether i missed it but are both these sets professional grade paints? thank you :)
+Angela Rafael I am not sure. I did not test for the Lightfastness.
Thank you for this video, I saw Kuretake watercolor set in our local art shop and they are relatively cheap, so I was looking for a review, wondering, how will they look on the paper. I think I will not buy them, as they are too pastel for me. I have Umton and Van Gogh paints now, both of them are quite cheap and much more vibrant. Thanks a lot. :)
Ruchie try on rice paper! Japanese and Chinese colours are meant for very absorbent paper. After whatever is in it seeps through the rice paper, the pigment left on the rice paper will look vibrant! I remember seeing a Chinese artist paint from the back of the rice paper, and the colour shows up gorgeous in front. Conversely, if you use western watercolours on rice paper, the colours will disappear.
Hi, I was wondering, can you recommend any tins that can fit the Kuretake Gansai pans other than the Kissho? I'm planning on buying the Kuretake but I am hesitant because of this.
+Erica Lizzie I suppose if you get larger tins, they should hold those large pans, but the space inside the tins will not be properly used up
Dear Teoh,
do you have any experiences with Holbein Shin Gansai colours? :)
+Vika I've not used those before.
Hi, I really enjoyed your videos. Can I ask your opinion on the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolour Paints vs the winsor and newton cotman half pan? Thanks.
Gansai Tambi has a slightly different look compared to Winsor and Newton. But both are comparable in quality.
ok great! thanks!
Greetings! How much would you estimate that the Kissho Gansai palette with 18 colors cost in US $ ?
Not sure. Check eBay or Amazon
Do either brand sell refills? I've looked and can't find any.
I don't think there are refills. So you have to get other brands to refill
Hi Teoh, thanks again for your reviews, they are very great and helpful!
Do you know anything about this brand: Bianyo 36 Watercolor Paint Set ?
Thanks!
From what I can see on Amazon, it looks like watercolour paint for kids to play around. If you want to get a beginner watercolour set, check out this post www.parkablogs.com/content/best-watercolor-sets-beginners
Thanks, Teoh!
do these work well on Japanese papers such as rice and kozo?
+Blissfulthings That I'm not too sure. I've not used rice paper before.
+Teoh Yi Chie I'll give it a try and let you know :)
Blissfulthings hi! May I know whether you managed to try these on rice paper? 😊
yes they do but you need to use a piece of felt under the paper to absorb the extra water keep in mind western watercolour dosent work as well
Blissfulthings This is late but traditionally washi paper is used with gansai, mounted on top of a wood board and the paints are used with just enough water to activate them without making them too runny. Rice paper works well too, and a lot of people nowadays use other kinds of mixed media paper so watercolour paper is fine. Considering the fact that washi paper is very smooth, I'd think hot press watercolour paper would work very well too.
Where can you get the plastic pellette shown on the video, it looks an ideal size for me?
I bought it on eBay.
You're work and demonstrations are first class.
I'm using the holbein for now and really like it. Have ever tried the rembrandt brand?
Thank you
I’ve not tried Rembrandt
@@teohyc i was wondering because there's rembrandt and rembrandt talens. I'm not sure what the difference is.
Oh well......
@@tombryan720 Talens is the company that makes Rembrandt
@@teohyc i found that out late last night and didn't wanna wake you. Van Gogh is their student brand
@@teohyc I am sure you poured a REMBRANDT pan for me a while back....maybe some old tubes...maybe not rembrandt then...You may like Rembrandt...
I didnt speak english and for me is very dificult understand you , so what is the better watercolor? Im a begginer. Thanks!
Quality for these two is same
im thinking to upgrade my cotman color section with another brand, because i wanted to try another brand to work with and more color variations. Do you have an advice about some brand for me to choose?
+Deira Rizkia You can just upgrade to the artist quality Winsor and Newton. Or just get whatever artist grade paints near your art store so that you can replace them easily when you run out.
Teoh Yi Chie i'll try some tube of the artist grade Winsor and Newton or QoR further! Cant wait to try some. Thank you so much for the advice and review!
What is better Winsor and Newton Cotman or Gansai Tambi Watercolor?
They are both comparable. I don't think better is the right more, more like different. If you're on budget, Gansai Tambi may be a bit cheaper because their pans are huge
Do you know of any lightfast tests done on the gansai tambi watercolors?
Not that I know of
Great review, learn some important facts. I've been wondering what these paints were exactly. On one of the comments on "thefrugalcrafter" someone explained these were a different kind of pigment. Not a pigment but a mineral? Just curios about this.
+Gail Gassen Pigment is the mineral that provides the colour. They are extracted from stones and minerals. The main difference between this and other paints is the binder.
hello, I was wondering if you have tried the Karetake transparent watercolor. I would like a comparison to the karetake
gansai tambi watercolor. I see there are no full pans of the transparent ones.
I don't think there are lots of transparent paints in Kuretake.
yes, there is a plastic paint box called kuretake taransparent. it says it's natural pigments. It
would be nice to have a comparison video. it seems it only comes in the travel paint box.
kuretakezig.us/watercolors/transparent-watercolor-set-2/
thank you for all the videos you do! i have learned so much from you over the years! how is the baby doing? we need an update lol have a great day! my daughter is having a second baby , in addition to my 7 year old grand daughter were so happy! i am painting all the baby forest animals and a forest mural for the nursery , i can't wait
My baby is 10 months old now. She's learning to stand, or should I say push herself up the sofa
that's awesome .... time to get locks for everything in your house lol
Hi I’ve just bought komorebi metallic full pans. They are big. In japan can you get tins to keep the full pans in? The packaging is cardboard. Can’t find anything in uk. X
There aren't any plastic boxes for them as far as I know. One way is to reuse the Kissho Gansai box but there are also pans inside.
Teoh Yi Chie ah yes I was looking at that.but it’s £41. I will try repurposing another tin. Thank you. X
beautiful work. subbed.