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Rediscovering My Kuretake Watercolors Through Color Swatching

Denise Love

8,403 views

After owning these paints for years, I finally sat down to swatch my Kuretake 48-piece watercolor set alongside the 24-piece Art Nouveau collection. In this first video of my new art journal series, I’m exploring the full range of colors, noticing their transparency, richness, texture, and beautiful metallic finishes, and creating reference charts I can use as I move into the journal-making process. It’s a relaxed, colorful studio session filled with paint exploration, handwritten notes, and plenty of inspiration for the pages to come.

Supplies used:

🖌️ Looking for the supplies I used? I’ve listed all my favorite and most-used materials on one easy-to-update page here: https://2lilowls.com/favorite-supplie...

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🗒️ Note: I no longer add individual links under each video to avoid expired links, YouTube may flag, risking my channel being deleted. And due to the volume of comments I receive, I’m not able to look up individual supplies on request — but everything I use regularly is listed on that page! Thanks for your understanding!

Learn with me on Skillshare: https://skl.sh/deniselove
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20 Comments

@JillWillems 4 weeks ago

The timing of this is unreal! I was just watching your recent class on Skillshare yesterday and I thought that I haven’t seen Denise use her Kuretake paints for a very long time. I’m looking forward to the book you’ll make with these. I’m loving your handmade books dedicated to paint sets. One more thing, I love your nonchalant response to criticism and people trying to dictate how art supplies are supposed to be used. Isn’t there just a peaceful “you do you and I’ll do me” attitude we develop after more than half a century of life experience?! Keep experiencing that creative joy, thanks for all you do!

@rum-tumble 4 weeks ago

Thanks to you, I love swatching out all my paints! You are the Queen of amazing art tips! ❤

@bethbrady8146 4 weeks ago

I love that you show up! I love your attitude as well as content! You help me get creating when fear has me by the neck and my perfection is winning. Thank you❤

@mgmccartney8513 4 weeks ago

I am so relieved to know that you had the colors swapped around because I have tried and tried to figure out why my colors were not like yours!!! Yay!! Thanks!

@ASampstamp 3 weeks ago

I am with you on your comments about mixing! Life is too short for me to spend a bunch of time trying to get to the colors that make me happy. Then there is the whole saga of trying to duplicate the colors later on😂But if it brings joy to someone to do mixing have at it!

@HuLiLiLeilani 4 weeks ago

I love swatching so much it’s always the first thing I do w my paints. Kind of a nerdy-relaxing thing for me. Plus I find the swatches so helpful. The large wall over my painting area is covered w them for easy view and decisions about which set, which colors I want to use. And all the pretty colors make my wall and my heart sing!!

@merrilynnowlan8907 4 weeks ago

Will love to. See a series using these paints

@nedanashu5025 3 weeks ago

I love convenience colors as well. Don’t feel like sitting there mixing.. I have both these sets and enjoy them.

@LisaHanksBaxter 1 month ago

I’m so grateful for this video, Denise. I’ve had both of these sets for a number of years..since beginning to learn from your videos..and swatched them with ‘tiny’ swatches. So now I’ll do them this way…and will also attempt to swatch all of the sets that have…ha! Thank you!

@cynthiadiamond5942 4 weeks ago

Yay. I'm so happy you are going to do a kuretake book! I need to use my paints. Thank you

@amazingpainter-j3b 4 weeks ago

I love swatching my colors!! ❤

@MacorinaCreativeStudio1 4 weeks ago

I barely swatch my colors and should definitly do that more. ❤❤🌞

@yovamccoy2806 4 weeks ago (edited)

This is your most complete swatching tip video. It included showing us the laminating sheets. I remember using contact paper in my younger days. It came in a roll and tended to stay curled. I 'spose I could have cut the size needed and stuck it under books before attaching. Thanks for the comparison between the box lid swatch and the new swatch. I do the mass tone and then the watered down light version. So yes those box lid squares are tiny. I may have to reswatch too. I swatch my tube paints on watercolor postcards as I buy them; 6-8 colors on a card.
I can't wait to see the Kuretake sketchbook paintings. I am glad that you are going to swatch the Kissho sets.

For the 2nd time, YouTube stuck a Dr. Gundry ad in your Friday video. It goes on forever so I wait a couple hours and restart your video.

@teretrigo24 3 weeks ago

OOOOHHHH! FINNALY😃😃

@Steph_Lovetheone 4 weeks ago

I have both of these and love them so much too! And love some colour play and swatch! Need to do bedtime duties now haha but excited to come back and watch this in full! I love your encouraging and free style and your enthusiasm ❤

@josiherman6137 1 month ago

I just swatched all my Japanese watercolors also. Fun.

@DeborahP7277 4 weeks ago

You are so fun! I love your videos. I ran to my art room and swatched the one set I hadn’t done yet. The tip about using a waterbrush is very helpful! Thank you!

@Barbara-549 4 weeks ago

YES!! Please do a color chart! I did one with my Mei Lang set and it turned out so pretty I stuck it on the wall. It would be so much fun to do one along with you!💖

@legacybuilder9664 4 weeks ago

I found Kuretake Gansai when I lived in Okinawa, Japan 10 + years ago at the Green Note ( you'd love that place). My husband gifted me the entire collection of Kuretake in the wooden box for my birthday when we returned to the states. They are dreamy creamy amazing! I went through ALL of my watercolor paints Kuretake full sets, Daniel Smith, and Divolo Italian watercolors swatched them and did a value scale of each color. I have a dedicated binder to Kuretake because that is my largest set. Then the Daniel Smith & Divolo swatch and value scale . IT TOOK FOREVER, but totally worth it! Totally worth it. These binders are a gem.
During your color theory class, I was able to create a color mixing grid and color wheel. I also learned water to pigment ratios which really helped me understand the difference between acrylic and watercolor.

@marinabouchotstrabic5024 4 weeks ago

COLOR CHART! COLOR CHART! COLOR CHART! (Also MASHA Bare Spine Beauty Book Pretty Pretty Please With SUGAR on top). You know her products deserve the love and it will be stunning.