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Boku-Undo E-Sumi Tan – Opaque Fusion Japanese Watercolours and Sombre Pastel Tones (Set of 6 Colours)

Boku-Undo E-Sumi Tan – Opaque Fusion Japanese Watercolours and Sombre Pastel Tones (Set of 6 Colours)

€22,89 EUR
€22,89 EUR
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Boku-Undo Tan (Pastel) Watercolours 6 Colours

Explore the softness of Japanese minimalism with the most poetic pastel tone collection in the art world.
The Boku-Undo E-Sumi Tan (Pale/Pastel) set offers a mature, melancholic, and deeply artistic approach to the palette of these soft colours. Created in Nara by the legendary Boku-Undo brand, which has been manufacturing traditional inks for over 200 years, this set replaces the dense darkness of other collections with a subtle mist of sumi grey and traditional mineral white (Gofun).
The result is desaturated, opaque, and hazy colours that evoke the peace of misty mornings and the delicacy of classic Asian paintings.

The Atmospheric Effect of Japanese Mist
Unlike transparent Western watercolours, the Tan line has a slightly opaque base due to the mixture of white pigment with microparticles of grey sumi ink. When diluted, the colours do not simply disappear; they transform into a soft, velvety veil. This allows for atmospheric perspective, smoke effects, realistic mist, and incredibly smooth and natural skin gradations.

This collection stands out for an opposite approach to others: instead of a dark and dense base, it uses a base mixed with white pigment (Gofun / Titanium Dioxide) and a minimal amount of light grey sumi ink. The result is soft, hazy, and desaturated pastel tones, excellent for creating atmospheric perspective, mist, or delicate skin tones.
Due to the presence of mineral white pigment and the selection of softer organic dyes, the UV stability of this palette varies between colours. Below you will find the corresponding technical sheet:
Colour Name (English)
 Official Colour No.
 Pigment(s) / Composition Base Lightfastness 
Pale Red (Pale Red / Tan-en)
 E15 Titanium White + Sumi Grey + Organic Red/Pink Dye
 Low (The pastel reddish tone tends to fade under direct sunlight)
Pale Yellow (Pale Yellow / Tan-o) E16 Titanium White + Sumi Grey + Organic Yellow Pigment High (Excellent permanence, maintains stable sand tone)
Pale Green (Pale Green / Tan-ryoku) E17 Titanium White + Sumi Grey + Phthalocyanine Green High (Excellent permanence, creates a safe, opaque mint green)
Pale Blue (Pale Blue / Tan-sei) E18 Titanium White + Sumi Gray + Ultramarine Base High (Excellent permanence, ideal for mist and sky effects)
Pale Purple (Pale Purple / Tan-shi) E19 Titanium White + Sumi Gray + Organic Violet/Pink Moderate-Low (The purple component loses saturation over time)
Pale Brown (Pale Brown/ Azuki-tan) E20 Titanium White + Sumi Gray + Iron Oxide / Brown
 High (Excellent permanence, very stable azuki bean tone)
Product Highlights:
  • Dark and Sophisticated Pastel Palette: Six pale, poetic shades (Pink, Sand Yellow, Aged Mint Green, Mist Blue, Pale Lavender Purple, and Soft Terracotta Red).
  • Absolute Matte Finish: Dries to a silky, non-reflective texture that instantly elevates the aesthetic level of your work.
  • Perfect for Layering: Due to their subtle and unique opacity, these colors work fantastically for creating soft overlays and highlights on top of darker backgrounds.
  • Presented in Traditional Gansai Pans: Large, shallow pans that make it easy to pick up paint evenly with brushes of any size.
Artist Tip:
The Tan set is the perfect counterbalance to the E-Sumi Classic (Shadow Black) set. While the Classic creates the shadows and dark structure of the painting, the Tan set brings diffuse light, the mystery of mist, and mid-tones, forming an unbeatable duo for any watercolourist or illustrator.
Bring the serenity and timeless elegance of Japanese design to your artwork!
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