Gansai & Shikishi Board Kit
The Gansai & Shikishi Board Kit (WC-KIT) is the perfect introductory set to start painting with Japanese gansai.
Gansai are traditional Japanese watercolor paints made with finely ground pigments so that they will yield bright, vivid colors on even the most absorbent washi paper.
The 8 gansai colors in this kit were hand selected by Yasutomo to give you endless mixing capabilities. Two metallics (a pearl and a gold) are included for beautiful metallic highlights.
This contains the essentials for exploring traditional Japanese watercolor on washi paper and makes a perfect gift for the artist or beginner.
Kit contents:
- 8 Gansai watercolors
- Wa Fude Brush #2
- Shikishi Board 5” x 7”
- 10 sheets of Hosho practice paper
You will need a jar of clean water, a piece of felt or smooth paper towel to place underneath the practice paper, rag, mixing palette or tray, and paper towel.
How to Use the Gansai & Shikishi Board Kit
Step 1
Rinse the brush tip to remove starch and any loose hairs.
Step 2
Swatch the 8 gansai colors and practice brush strokes with the Wa Fude brush on the smooth side of the Hosho practice paper.
Step 3
Try mixing and blending gansai watercolors together to make new colors on the practice paper. For example, mix yellow and magenta together to make red; magenta and blue to make purple; yellow and blue to make green.
Use indigo to deepen any color.
Use gold and silver to make highlights.
Step 4
Colors straight from the pan are very concentrated. Thin with water to achieve lighter colors.
Step 5
Try loading the brush with a light color and dipping the tip into a darker color for a unique brush stroke. This is a great technique for making flower petals.
Step 6
Use the Hosho sheets to try different colors and subject matter such as florals, birds, landscapes, etc.
Step 7
Paint the shikishi directly with the gansai watercolors. You can also paint on a loose sheet and mount it to the board using a starch-based adhesive such as Nori Paste.
Step 8
To mount your painting, spray the back of the sheet (the rough side) lightly with water and wait a minute to let the fibers expand. Then apply a light coat of Nori Paste. Apply the sheet to the board, gently smooth out any bubbles, and let dry under heavy books or a press.
Step 9
When you are finished painting, rinse out your brush and shape the hair to a point with a paper towel. Dry horizontal or hang by the loop.
More videos
Ready for more? Keep learning about working with gansai in these videos below.
Visit the Yasutomo YouTube channel for more tutorials, demos, and product reviews!
