Choosing Keeping Retro Watercolour Set, 1970's

Choosing Keeping presents seven exclusive, special editions of 8 shades of Gansai. This Japanese alternative to standard European watercolours is not dissimilar to gouache and is made by a 100 year old paint maker in Japan. The paints can be used directly out of the box with a wet paintbrush - either thinly in translucent washes, or by layering for a bolder effect. These can also be used on darker paper bases to enhance colours further. 

Included is a blank letterpress swatch card featuring each individual colour name to be painted in for colour referencing. This can come in handy as appearances can be deceiving and each colour is only revealed once wet and set to paper!

We recommend the Aquarella (white) and Aquarello (off-white) for the perfect paper pairing.

Details:
Material: Gansai watercolour
Included: 8 colours in chiyogami paper presentation box including a blank letterpress swatch card which can be painted in for colour reference. 
Vegetarian/ Vegan: No (contains gelatine glue binder)
Non-toxic
Made in Japan

Colour Breakdown:

17 - Asagi - A blue green that shares its name with an ancient breed of Koi which is characterised by striking blue scales. 
57 - Kouhaku - Yellow-white
23 - Gin-nezu - Light grey; literally ‘silver mouse’
204 - Mizu-iro - Light blue; literally ‘water colour’ 
2 - Oudo - Ochre; perhaps the oldest pigment, found globally in prehistoric cave paintings - synthetic alternatives to the natural pigment are more frequently used today, as in this instance. 
219 - Rikyuu-Nezumi - In translation this colour combines ‘dark green’ and ‘mouse’ but in practice it is far lighter than such a name suggests.
40 - Natane-iro - Rapeseed 
1 - Enji - Shortened from enjimushi which is the Japanese name for the insect from which the deep red dye carmine is derived. A synthetic alternative is used today. 

Swatches and illustrations courtesy of Claire Fletcher