Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.32 RED

Gansai Tambi No. 32 Red is a neutral, rich red – neither too orange nor too pink – from Kuretake's traditional Japanese watercolour paint line. This water-based pigment paint can be applied as a transparent glaze or as an opaque, vibrant tone depending on the amount of water, and dries with a subtle sheen. The wide plastic pan is individually replaceable and fits seamlessly into existing Gansai Tambi palettes.

Features

• Neutral red without colour drift: No. 32 Red sits in the middle of the red spectrum – neither warm-orange like Scarlet nor cool-blue like Carmine. As a classic primary red, it's ideal for mixing in both directions.
• Creamy, easily activated consistency: The paint dissolves from the pan with minimal water. Wide brushes find plenty of space on the large pan; fine brushes work with precision even at the edges.
• Dual character – watercolour and gouache: When heavily diluted, it produces a transparent pale cherry to coral tone. With less water, the pigment becomes dense and luminous, almost gouache-like.
• Lightfast: All colours in the Gansai Tambi line are lightfast – provided the dilution with water is not excessive. The more water used, the lower the light-fastness.
• Non-toxic, AP-certified: The water-based pigment paint is certified to ACMI standards and safe for artistic use.
• Modular pan: The individual pan can be removed from any Gansai Tambi set and used separately, or inserted as a replacement for a depleted colour.

Use & Tips

• Illustration and sketching: No. 32 Red is ideal for colouring line drawings – heavily diluted for delicate rose tones, undiluted for rich accents.
• Calligraphy and brush lettering: Mixed directly from the pan with a water brush, the paint can be used for coloured lettering and labels.
• Etegami and postcard art: The Japanese tradition of painted postcards (Etegami) has always used Gansai Tambi colours – Red No. 32 as a neutral primary red is a key colour.
• Sumi-e and ink painting: Combined with sumi ink or other Gansai Tambi colours, it creates harmonious colour gradations in the style of East Asian ink painting.
• Layering: As Gansai Tambi colours sit on the paper surface rather than soaking in, work quickly when layering – otherwise the lower layer will dissolve again when the next coat is applied.
• Paper recommendation: Best used on smooth, well-sized watercolour paper or calendered drawing paper with sufficient weight (minimum 200 g/m²) to prevent the paper from becoming wavy.

For Watercolour Enthusiasts

No. 32 Red is based on the pigments PR48:3 and PY1 – a classic organic red lake combined with an arylide yellow that gives the colour tone its warm, balanced centre. Unlike purely transparent watercolour pigments, Gansai Tambi colours traditionally show higher opacity than European watercolours. This makes No. 32 particularly interesting for glazing techniques where opacity and transparency are to be deliberately graduated: applied thinly, the colour remains open and blendable; applied thicker, it makes a clear, luminous final statement.

Technical Specifications