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I just got the 36 color set from Amazon, and it didn't arrive like the ones shown on the YouTube unboxing videos.
On the videos, they show the separate color pans are wrapped. Also, the sets on the videos came with a sleeve around the box with example colors. My set came with the pans unwrapped and several of the colors were cracked and/or pulling away from the sides.
The colors still work great (at least the 3 I had time to play with so far). I wonder if this is because they are so popular that shortcuts have been taken. Anyone else have this experience? I really only had to wait an extra 3 days from Amazon.
The cracking is normal - and mine came just like you described as well - I also bought them on Amazon. I think it just depends on what seller you buy them from - I bought mine some time ago, so I don't think it's a shortcut issue.
there are basically two versions. There are the ones from Japan, without the sleeves and extra packaging, and then the pricier ones are packaged for US (the sleeve, the plastic on the inside, etc) I saved $20 by ordering the Japan ones and they are the same thing.
dont you just love them??? i have just started to learn watercoloring and this set is beautiful. i put a small white sticker on the "bottom" white cardboard edge and then painted it a little, so i can see what color each tray is [of course, i re-organized the trays....]
ps dont want to enable anyone, nahhh, just joking, i do! has anyone tried the peerless watercolors??? the youtube videos are so amazing. mine is on order....
there are basically two versions. There are the ones from Japan, without the sleeves and extra packaging, and then the pricier ones are packaged for US (the sleeve, the plastic on the inside, etc) I saved $20 by ordering the Japan ones and they are the same thing.
Good to know that it's safe to order from overseas. I put them in my wishlist on amazon and chose US only. I'll definitely reconsider now.
I have both the Gansai and the Peerless and like them both! the Peerless are very transparent and I love using them. You need very little pigment, so they last a long time. There are some good videos out there with suggestions for cutting strips and making a palette of your colors. I used a photo album I got on clearance at Joanns and it works perfectly!! Have fun with your new purchase!!!
Good to know that it's safe to order from overseas. I put them in my wishlist on amazon and chose US only. I'll definitely reconsider now.
Please proceed with caution. I ordered from amazon in mid March. Good deal, but misread shipping. It was to come from Japan and no tracking. Estimated delivery date April 8 - 29th - big window. I patiently waited, it never came. I reported the no show this week and was refunded, but at least six weeks later no product - I am bummed. I really just want to play with the water colors!
Please proceed with caution. I ordered from amazon in mid March. Good deal, but misread shipping. It was to come from Japan and no tracking. Estimated delivery date April 8 - 29th - big window. I patiently waited, it never came. I reported the no show this week and was refunded, but at least six weeks later no product - I am bummed. I really just want to play with the water colors!
I got my Gansai set off Amazon from a US company, so I didn't have any issues with shipping. I purchased the 36 pan set which was around $43 or $44, and I still think that the going price. I got an email this evening from carpediemmarkers.com, and they are having 35% off their 12 & 18 color sets. The 24 color one goes for $26.67.
Maybe these can be some options for you......Good Luck!
All good info. I'm just punching out and putting my Peerless set into a book like chart. The Gansai set is on my list for the future. Glad to hear you all like it.
I read that these watercolors were originally for the Japanese market only but were not popular and they sat around, dried and cracked and then were sold in the US. They were not individually wrapped and were labeled in Japanese. People buying them complained about the colors being cracked, dried and contaminating adjacent colors and not individually wrapped to protect each pan of color. Then they began manufacturing them for the US market and those colors are labeled in English and individually wrapped so they don't breakup and contaminate adjacent color pans. Whether this is true or not, I don't know but the article came with a caution to be careful which set is being ordered.
When I ordered mine off Amazon, they came individually wrapped, however they were sent from a US company, which I mentioned in an earlier post. I didn't have any cracking, and they're all performing beautifully. Now if only my talents matched the paints!!!!
The package my watercolors came in has all Japanese writing except with English numbering next to the Japanese names. Also had no sleeve and the colors were not wrapped. A few colors have cracking, but most are fine and there is no contamination of colors. I think I may have received a Japanese import, but they work beautifully and shipping was quick. I got mine through Amazon and it may have come from an authorized importer that had them in stock which may be why I got it so fast. I've never loved any watercolors the way I love these!
I'm wondering this also. I have a peerless set, a student grade Windsor set and a big set of caran d ache water soluble crayons that I use like water colors. I'm not above buying another nice set but wonder if it would be more special than what I have.
I'm curious -- what makes Gansai watercolors better than other watercolors? Why all the fuss?
They're not necessarily better, just different. I think they are just popular right now. Japanese watercolor has some colors with a lot more opacity than other types of watercolor, and so that's sort of novel.
Each watercolor medium I try is different from others and so it's fun to experiment with new ones.
I just bought those Zig watercolor markers too and those are fun.
I think I will bump them up on my list. A friend of mine has ordered the Zig markers and she is reporting that her friends are very pleased with those also.
I'm with Lydia and would agree that they are different rather than better. I do use other watercolors, but I love the Gansai Tambi because I think the creamy, opaque nature of them is more forgiving. I tend to be a little heavy handed with water and can get more vibrant coloring with these. They also have white and metallic colors that can be either opaque or more transparent depending on the look you are going for. I haven't seen that with other watercolor sets.
I'm with Lydia and would agree that they are different rather than better. I do use other watercolors, but I love the Gansai Tambi because I think the creamy, opaque nature of them is more forgiving. I tend to be a little heavy handed with water and can get more vibrant coloring with these. They also have white and metallic colors that can be either opaque or more transparent depending on the look you are going for. I haven't seen that with other watercolor sets.
If you like the metallics, I highly recommend the FineTec metallics. I did a video on them for one of our Splitcoast Mix-Ability challenges here.
They're SO shiny - it makes Encore inkpads look like dirt!
Sorry my browser crashes on my iPhone every time I try to insert the link, so I'll just paste it. I've found, I think, a great price for FineTec metallics. Here's the link for 12 pan color metallics and 6 pan metallics. Maybe Lydia can fix the link to make it easier. You've gone and did it again girl, I just had to try these
They're not necessarily better, just different. I think they are just popular right now. Japanese watercolor has some colors with a lot more opacity than other types of watercolor, and so that's sort of novel.
So is it just that they are opaque -- like gouache?
Gansai Tambi watercolors
