Combining All Four Seasons of Holbein Irodori Traditional Gouache into One Big Set of 48 Colours!

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Yes, please do a video on how YOU would arrange them in the four different sets. That would be really fun to see! Great video, thank Becky!

[@BeckyTregear]

I'll definitely have to film that down the line. It will no doubt take me ages to decide between certain colours. Some feel really obvious and others could go in multiple seasons, haha! 😂 Thank you for the feedback. 😊

[@tempest6781]

I thought it was this tbh xD

[@nafordebi]

I got half pans but still so happy to get them

[@kookatsoonjan]

@@nafordebi hello...can you really just get half pans of these gouache paints..Iridori???

[@Dinky_Bunny]

Thank you for listing all the pigment info in one place. This review is literally the ONLY one where pigment info is listed for each color in all 4 sets. I was interested in these sets but after seeing some of the fugitive pigments used (like PR83, PY83, and PG8) I've changed my mind. I'd rather buy individual tubes of gouache I personally love. Especially ones that use lighfast pigments I know won't have any issues. Thank you so much for this review. Such a lifesaver!

[@BeckyTregear]

Yay, I'm so glad it was helpful! It's definitely better to go for individual tubes when lightfastness is a big concern. Most of the time I am not too bothered as I generally keep my originals and make digital copies (or paint in sketchbooks), but if making an original painting for someone else, I'd want to use only the pigments that I know are going to be lightfast!

[@INCWorks]

You did a fantastic series thoroughly exploring these sets. And now I'm happy to see you putting everything together in this video. It's just one of the reasons why you're one of my top go-to art channels.

[@BeckyTregear]

Aww thank you, that's so sweet. It was really fun combining the sets, and now I shall have to decide which ones I would put in which season. I forsee that taking many hours of deliberation. 😂

[@bertialia]

Thank you for your videos, now I know I'm going to buy Spring and Winter sets.

[@kookatsoonjan]

good choice !

[@wunna8657]

Very nice swatch love the 48 chart !

[@BeckyTregear]

Thanks so much, I was happy with how it turned out. 😊

[@NancyTipton-u8e]

Thank you…great info for us by your swatching. 😊

[@LunaBianca1805]

Oh, I can definitely the Christmas colours in the winter set - but then again Christmas for me here in Germany is , well, right in winter. So for me they fit right in there, also with the greens and reds and golds, because those are the colours I connect with the season. I'd love to see which colours and motifs do remind you most of Christmas 😁

[@FourInchCats]

Thank you for this video! It really helped me get my head around the four sets, the combined swatch was brilliant and really helped me compare the colours such as the yellows for example. 😊❤

[@BeckyTregear]

It is definitely so much easier seeing the colours properly when they're in a logical order, and not all over the place which is so confusing on the brain, lol.

[@juststartingover2735]

OMG Holbein should thank you for this excellent demonstration. This is most helpful. Thank you! Autumn is my favorite set and your demonstrations are helping me choose whats next.

[@BeckyTregear]

Wouldn't that be nice, haha! But I'm glad it has been helpful. 😀

[@AlexisCassandraArt]

Wow, now when you put them all together I can see how lovely of a palette this really is! Even if I didn’t like the arrangement of some of the colors seasonally, I love how they look the way you arranged them. They are just gorgeous. Sure, I’m still bitter about the lack of cherry blossom, but I’m sure I’ll get over it😂 since this series is well-received, I definitely think it would be a great idea for you to eventually continue it by curating your own seasonal palettes! Btw I found the sets on Blick and they are NOT CHEAP. I will continue to enjoy them vicariously through your content instead😂

[@BeckyTregear]

They really aren't cheap at all....I, uh, had to use some of my personal stash money to buy them, haha! Worth it. I definitely need to rearrange them into what I think would be ideal seasonal palettes, but I am sure it will be something that everyone will disagree over, depending on their preferences, lol.

[@lisaleone2296]

Blick sells them open stock now for $6.70 USD a tube. I purchased 15 of them and I think that should do me. Cost me more than one of the sets of 12, but I think I got all of the colors I want. I don't need 13 oranges/yellows/golds or 6 browns.

[@kookatsoonjan]

@@lisaleone2296 yes Lisa...this is the way to go I believe also...as there are just too many yellows for ine, that are very "samey" even on camera...you need a WARM and COOL yellow...that is 2...an orange, cool and warm red, some pinks, if there were any🙃...maybe more blues and greens, the 2 greys and 2 metallics and black and white and a warm and cool brown...not 6 browns...and an earth yellow and earth orange...poof...I could definitely narrow it down to 24 colours and under to 20.

[@Ddalgiichigo]

Winter to me is jewel tones, but you’re right choosing keeping seasonal sets make more sense

[@tallulahlucy8051]

I love the way you swatch. you include so much useful information.

[@BeckyTregear]

Thank you, I try to include as much as I can think of, though I’ve forgotten things before, haha. ❤️

[@juststartingover2735]

Just received my 4th & final season. I want to swatch them just as you did with all 48 in color groupings. (Reds, yellows, blues etc). Thank you for this video!

[@BeckyTregear]

Oh yay, I hope you enjoy all four sets! In the meantime I've lost my swatch and may need to do it all over again, lol!

[@sosumi_rogue]

Just got all my four sets based on your video and INCWorks! I love them!

[@BeckyTregear]

Oh, that's great to know! I saw Irene's video too. 😊

[@thedrakonishe5138]

unrelated to the topic of the video, but your voice is just so lovely, I can't really see your face so I can't verify, but you sound like you're smiling sometimes and it's very heartening to know you enjoy painting and swatching as much as I enjoy watching these vids

[@BeckyTregear]

Thank you! Painting and filming usually puts me in a good mood, and I try to be upbeat so I don't fall into a sleep-inducing monotone, lol!

[@mycraftway1576]

Wonderful colors... I recently purchase monte marte gouche set... Bt didn't try it... Bt to see your vedio... I will definitely try out... Thanks for sharing stay connected

[@WillowRoseArlen]

Oh I so appreciate seeing them all together! I'm happy to see that the sets compliment each other well. Loved this series, thank you for doing such a thorough test of these!

[@BeckyTregear]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this series of video, and thank you so much for watching them! 😊❤️

[@TristinaDietzElmesArtist]

Your large set swatches was very helpful. Thank you! ❤

[@BeckyTregear]

I'm so glad it helped! 😊

[@jennw6809]

I just have to thank you again for compiling this resource and including pigment information. I had read that the Irodori line was actually a reboot of an older line of "antique" colors Holbein had made in the past. Not only were they supposed to be the "traditional" colors of Japan, but also were supposed to be more lightfast. When I first watched through the videos I didn't pay much attention to the pigment info even though I'm a pigment nerd... but then I noticed that the Irodori line makes liberal use of PR 83, PG 8, PR9, and other questionable pigments... not to mention PY3, which a lot of manufacturers use, but is not the greatest either. Sigh, Holbein does love their PR 83. I think they give it too many stars. They should give it zero stars, just like they do some of their pinks and purples. I finally realized I could look at Jackson's and see the pigments for the regular line easily there, and it's true, that it's even worse 🤣🤣 The regular gouache line uses pigments such as PY1 (super fugitive, hasn't been used by most manufacturers for YEARS even for student grade paint! I have some PY1 from the 80s in Grumbacher Academy). Also a lot of BV (blue violet) pigments, all of which are dye based and totally fugitive. And tons of fluorescent pigments too (although those aren't mentioned on Jackson's). It's just weird and disappointing, that Holbein doesn't sort of move into the present day with their pigments even though this is meant to be "artist" gouache. I'm about to try out my brand new 5 color primary mixing set! They carry Holbein gouache at my local art store and I predict I won't be able to resist adding some tubes such as Cobalt Violet and Cobalt Turquoise, as well as a dark and an an earth.

[@BeckyTregear]

A lot of companies (and artists) still can't let go of Alizarin Crimson...it's one of those pigments which is stunningly beautiful but really does fade in a short(ish) amount of time. It needs to be kept away from direct sunlight. I'll hopefully be posting up some results from my own tests on PR83 soon.

[@jennw6809]

@@BeckyTregear You know what's funny? I came over to the dark side and ordered a couple of the sets. They came way down in price. I'm pretty sure when summer and fall come I won't be able to resist ordering those sets too LOL

[@BeckyTregear]

@@jennw6809 That's great if there was a price drop! Always worth getting things when they're cheaper, lol.

[@jennw6809]

@@BeckyTregear Did you ever put them in a palette together? I might finally try out my sealed gouache palette. I think the key is to mix in clove oil or other antimicrobal when you pour the wells.

[@BeckyTregear]

@@jennw6809 I still haven't done that! I had a disaster with that little sealed palette into which I poured Art Spectrum gouache...mould got in and ruined the lot. I had to throw all of the remaining paint away, so I am very reluctant to use it again. 😭

[@jrm2716]

They are lovely colors. I thoroughly enjoy Holbein watercolors, I imagine the gouache is just as nice. Yes, I'd be interested in seeing which paints you would choose for each set. Tfs

[@BeckyTregear]

I love their watercolours too! Mine isn't a large set but they are excellent quality. 💜

[@Elvraie]

I would be curious to see your choice for every season. Thanks for the video and have a great weekend, Becky.

[@BeckyTregear]

It's definitely one to think about....I will have to figure out my Ultimate Arrangement, haha!

[@AnastasiaYGamble]

I like the way you reordered the sets so much better, it makes more sense to me color wise as well. Very excited to see what else you make💕😁!

[@BeckyTregear]

Thank you, I much prefer seeing them all in order too. A lot easier on the brain, haha!

[@MrFabriciusalmeida]

I love gouache videos!!! Thank you so much for sharing them. Also, can’t wait to treat myself with the four seasons sets of these gouache paints ☺️

[@BeckyTregear]

I'm glad you enjoyed the videos, I appreciate you watching them. 😊 I hope you love the paints if you end up getting them! 💙

[@MrFabriciusalmeida]

@@BeckyTregear , can’t wait to get my paints! Lord help me with my budget… 🥵

[@BeckyTregear]

@@MrFabriciusalmeida I know that feeling!

[@omgtabbyOG]

In all fairness, while from our (non Asian) perspective the palettes might not make sense but in terms of the local flora and fauna you see in Japan during the respective seasons the palettes are pretty spot on.

[@BeckyTregear]

It has been a long time since I lived there for a bit! I was in Osaka so there was a lot of grey for the buildings, haha!

[@fuzzydragons]

they look great as one giant colour palette 😀

[@BeckyTregear]

I think so too, and they make a lot more sense, lol!

[@pennypop408]

I still love winter....

[@shadowguard3578]

Really fun video Becky! I feel like putting my watercolors in color order on one sheet so I can see them all together. Fortunately I don’t have that many so it would be a manageable project. Thanks!

[@BeckyTregear]

It’s a fun activity to do, and very satisfying seeing them all in colour order. 😄

[@shadowguard3578]

@@BeckyTregear 🤩

[@NanaBeth1]

I knew you were going to do this. I'm like you-needs to be logical. They do look gorgeous swatched out.

[@BeckyTregear]

I always like things to be in colour order, it looks so pleasing!

[@lylebobroske5172]

I absolutely love the way you did this, in one big swatch. It made all the colors seem so much more attractive. I just may have to try them out. Love the russet green. Thank you for this Becky. Always love your videos. ☺☺💖💖

[@BeckyTregear]

Thank you! They make so much more sense when placed into order and I found it much easier to see them properly in their colour groups. It is better for judging which colours are most appealing if picking individual ones for a smaller palette.

[@Bonnie10au]

This is a very good idea, to swatch all sets on one big swatch card. I have these sets as well but never thought about swatching the colours that way. Funny is that yours look like watercolours on the swatch card. I usually use them thicker, so more opaque. Gouache is so versatile!

[@BeckyTregear]

I had.to add quite a lot of water because of course by the time I'd finished dotting them out, most had dried on the paper and needed reactivating, haha!

[@Bonnie10au]

@@BeckyTregear haha, sure. I didn't think of that.

[@mald379]

Thank you so much for putting all that work in! I've been eyeing those sets for a year now, and Dr. Oto Kano's video has put me off from it for a long time... Then i bought summer set to see how it will act as a primary set to use in sketchbook (because of non-lightfast pigments in some of the paints) and... I loved it. I was worried by getting them all i will just get a lot of unnecessary doubles but when you put it side by side i can see there are only two yellow and two greens that are a biiiiit too close, but the rest makes WONDERFUL variation when you see them put like you've put them together. I have to say one thing that I'm missing in this video it would be the transparency test. In my summer set there are three paints that are more transparent than i would've liked for a gouache medium, so I would like to see the rest in here too! But honestly, great video, I think I'm going to buy the other sets! Thank you!

[@mald379]

Nvmd, I just noticed you have transparency in the other videos from the series! Thaaaaaank yoooooooou!

[@BeckyTregear]

@@mald379 I'm glad my video was helpful! I thought it would be fun to swatch all of the colours together, and it makes it a lost easier to see if there are duplicates...I am happy they are all (mostly) different!

[@jennw6809]

Great reference, thanks so much! These are all available in the USA on Amazon now, so here's your reminder to add links 🙂 What paper were you swatching on? The texture was extreme and frankly it seemed to make the paints look bad! Holbein usually isn't so streaky!

[@BeckyTregear]

Thanks for letting me know, I'll add some links when I get time. I think I used an off-cut of watercolour paper? I can't even remember, lol!

[@Azkademon]

went to bed early lastnight so didn't catch this video but what a treat to sit and watch it with my morning cup of tea! :D these colours look awesome all side by side, such a great range! I've never tried gouache, and anything other than watercolour and pencils seem to make me anxious, that's my inexperience coming out I guess after all the very first time I ever picked up a pencil was only 3 years ago :) great video! Thank you!

[@BeckyTregear]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! 😊 It can be quite daunting trying new mediums. I feel a bit like that with pastels! But gouache is very similar to watercolour, just a little thicker and opaque. Otherwise it behaves in much the same way, especially if you dilute it out with lots of water. Personally I think it works better straight from tube but at least if it dries it can be re wet. Nowhere near as difficult as acrylics, haha!

[@lisaleone2296]

I like how you did this. When I looked at the sets, I loved all of them at first glance, and considered picking 2 of the 4 to buy, but then ended up getting 15 of them open stock and don't really care to get the rest. To me, summer looks like your basic mixing palette, autumn is your earth tones, and then winter and spring fill in warmer and cooler colors. I too am confused why in a Japanese-themed palette they didn't include cherry blossom as one of the colors. That seems to be a frequent comment. But if I need pink, I just mix the Crimson with white, or use my Brilliant Pink from the regular line.

[@BeckyTregear]

Brilliant Pink is such a great colour; I have the watercolour version of it. Might need to find it in gouache too. 😊

[@kookatsoonjan]

Where can you buy these as individual tubes Lisa? I would love to do that...as I do not want all those yellows...or duplicate tones really...thought the 2 blue greens look a bit different...they are soooo similar as well.😶

[@sunnyschramm9650]

10:58 Your large new ordered set looks amazing in comparison the original palettes. And I´m so happy - I got all four sets for only 240€ today!

[@BeckyTregear]

Oh that's exciting, getting the whole lot together! I hope you enjoy them, and maybe my large swatch can be helpful with putting them in order, if you combine the sets. 😄

[@lindyashford7744]

Really nice to see them in a well ordered sequence! I love gouache and these look especially nice. Though Alazarin Crimson is somewhat fugitive a lot of artists like it for its lovely colour, as gouache are more a design medium that a fine art one, I guess that fugitive hues are admissible, so you are right to point it out and Holbein are right to include it. It would be interesting to know how well peoples swatches of it are faring, the ones they have in notebooks or in drawers as opposed to the ones they put on window sills. Most people love opera rose and that is even more fugitive. I just love colour so I would have it regardless. The only one I do not like is aureolin which went grey in my palette and looked like it had a disease! Love your order it really works well.

[@BeckyTregear]

Alizarin Crimson is one of those colours that artists can't let go of (including myself) because it is so beautiful. ❤️ A bit further down the track I am going to be showing some lightfast test results of it in watercolour as I have it in a few brands. Aureolin is shocking the way it turns all muddy. It looks so gorgeous when fresh! 😭

[@lindyashford7744]

@@BeckyTregear I have Jackson’s which I think is the same as Sennelier, it is a really gorgeous colour. None of my work has been exposed to sunlight, of course here in Britain we do not get your kind of strong light and heat anyway. It has not faded at all, and I think the proper glass would fix it for many users. With watercolour so much depends upon climate and light levels.

[@jennw6809]

I've been reading up on these paints and the Iridori are supposed to be more lightfast than the regular line, and even the regular Holbein gouache line is considered artists's gouache rather than designer's. However, gouache lightfastness is often compromised by the addition of white. Weirdly, white makes many pigments less lightfast. So "more lightfast than the regular line" which contains a fair amount of flourescent pigments, is not saying that much. They rate Crimson as "moderately durable" and many other paints the same way. Thing is, it's nearly impossible to make cool pinks and purples that are lightfast. That's why the Iridori line doesn't contain a sakura cherry blossom pink, and is very light on purples. It would be really great to see lightfastness tests on these, I don't think they exist on KZbin!!

[@kookatsoonjan]

@@jennw6809 Thanks for mentioningnthat Jenn...hence the reason ALSO that Derwent lightfast and Caran d'Ache coloured pencil have VERY FEW reds and purple pinks...so slim pickings in that colour family...since they are hare to come by as lightfast, and both these lines are most expensive in each brand...as they claim to be all lightfast.

[@kookatsoonjan]

Thank you Becky for adding that link in Japan...amazing prices...compared to Canada...and I hope their shipping is as reasonable as their prices...Love this comparison as well...though looks like if you bought all the sets...there are some yellows that seem identical...maybe they will sell them open stock on of these days...how did you find they compared to Holbeins normal gouache? thanks Janis in The Yukon, Canada

[@BeckyTregear]

I haven't got any of the normal range of Holbein gouache, but I gather they are pretty much the same. I would love to add Brilliant Pink to the set!

[@MixedMediaCraftsbyDiane]

Thank you for showing the entire palettes together. Would you suggest using the gouache straight from the tube, or is it better for them to dry in a palette before use?

[@BeckyTregear]

Gouache tends to crack a lot more than watercolour when it dries, and it will often crumble out of pans. It's still usable though - just messy!

[@wunna8657]

Do you have any information on the lightfastness of the Holbein Gouache?

[@BeckyTregear]

I have a few other videos looking at each individual set, and I think I wrote down all of the pigment numbers for each tube so that might be helpful. From what I remember, some of the reds use PR83 Alizarin Crimson, and that one definitely isn't lightfast. I think a lot of the other colours were fine though. 🙂

[@dianethoroughman9541]

Those colors are lovely! Thank you so much for sharing them with us. I found five tubes of Holbein's gouache in my stash that I received in an art subscription box. I also bought some Holbein's acryla gouache on ebay several years ago. What is the difference between regular gouache and acrylic gouache? I haven't used either one as I am a little bit intimidated.

[@suej947]

You were lucky getting Holbein gouache in a subscription box. If you are hesitant about trying them there are a lot utubers who use gouache and you could get a book or two. If you are interested I could give you the names of some I have that I am really enjoying. As for the acrylic gouache it is really just like the regular gouache except you can’t re wet it so it is hard to get off a plastic palette but it can be easily layered. I am no expert but I hope that helps.

[@BeckyTregear]

From my understanding, anything that is labelled as acrylic or acryl gouache is actually more like acrylic paint and so once they dry then they will not rewet at all and are waterproof. Traditional gouache is the same as watercolour but with less finely ground pigments so they become more opaque. As to my understanding anyway! Recently I did a Mystery Box video with an Upcrate and that had Turner Acryl Gouache in it. I've painted with those and they felt like acrylics to me. Traditional gouache is probably easier to begin with as it doesn't matter if they dry on the palette and you can spend more time with them. 😊

[@dianethoroughman9541]

@@suej947 Thank you. Yes I would like the channel names of those you have been enjoying.

[@dianethoroughman9541]

@@BeckyTregear Thank you for the information.

[@suej947]

@@dianethoroughman9541 There are 2 artists who use gouache that I look at , The Art Spirits and Visual mind. Two books I have been using that are recent publications are Gouache in 4 easy steps by Anna Koliadych and The Art of Gouache by Victoria Semjonova They are both very colourful and have a lot of different things to try. If you have five tubes of Holbein you have enough to get started. Maybe get a tube of white if you don't already have one. Hope that helps.

[@nafordebi]

FYI and for all who have tried for so long to purchase A GALLO HABDMADE WATERCOLORS, Made by a family in small batches and sell out their entire line within hours, Jackson’s is selling them now and they’re on sale I bought 10/83$ and if you’ve tried getting them on their website you know you would never get them for that price even if they weren’t sold out which for over a year they have been every time I try to get them I got split primary I can mix a lot plus a few convenience colors most are single pigment

[@ChelleBeeby]

💜💜💜tfs💜💜💜

[@DigitalViscosity]

I'm glad to hear you don't care about pigment numbers and lightfastness. It irritates me when people are like "ooohhh lightfast only can use the light fast ones" when all they are doing is sketchbook practice. I mean I get it learn to be limited to those colours but how many people are gonna have their work floating around for 100+ years? Even if it is the case the family or museum will get it restored eventually anyway. In 100+ years we won't be around to even see it!

[@BeckyTregear]

True that! I tend to think more about it if I am painting art that is intended to hang on a wall, but for sketchbooks not at all. 🙂

[@SpookyRooster135]

Can i ask a question please? When we have watercolour tubes, we put some paint into pans, so we can use them in pan form, can we do the same with gouache and have a gouache tin? I don't think it would be possible with acrylic gouache. When you did the complete colour swatch card, it made me think of a dot card. This might be a good idea if you are going outdoors to paint, then you don't have heavy products to carry. Also dot cards for limited colour paintings that you could make your own colour pallettes for the painting. I'll have to buy all of these, but i think they would have been better with a more creamy finish that didn't dry streaky. I love Japanese products.

[@BeckyTregear]

Yes, you can squeeze gouache into pans. The only trouble is that it usually cracks a lot more than watercolours when it fully dries, and they fall out of the pans more easily. They will still re-wet though! Acrylic gouache will not re-wet so I advise not putting those into pans! 😂 Making dot cards with watercolours or gouache would be a cool way to travel with them...nice idea. 😊

[@MrsBarnabas]

This may help to solve your problem - www.jacksonsart.com/studio-essentials-foldable-bucket-brush-washer-dark-blue?___store=jacksonsart_en&acc=c9f95a0a5af052bffce5c89917335f67 It's used by Sarah Burns kzbin.info ... and you can see it in use in this video short: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYrTk6iMa9mcf5Y

[@oliviad5474]

Luckily they are now very easily bought on amazon.

[@BeckyTregear]

Yes, I keep seeing them everywhere now - I will update my description with some links now. 😆

[@meherenow]

Probably better for people that don’t want to mix their own colours..the lack of single pigment colours really puts me off buying any of the sets…single pigment colours produce much clearer colours when mixing and as some of these have multiple pigments and mixing would produce muddy colours

[@BeckyTregear]

They mix well enough as long as not too many are put together, haha. But it's always worth choosing individual tubes with single pigments if you're looking to make up a fully mixable set of colours. I'm not sure what their standard set of colours is like but that might be something to check out.

[@dpashaian8272]

I’ve noticed that you may be just a lil OCD about the order of your paints. 😂🤣😂😆😉😉

[@BeckyTregear]

Just a bit! 😂

[@EugeniaLoli]

When I see these palettes, they don't really make me feel that I see at a particular season. Also, a lot of types of colors missing, while there are near-duplicates there. Overall, I wouldn't buy these sets. Instead, I'd buy my own colors from various gouache manufacturers to make my own season palettes of limited colors, possibly up to 6 colors (plus b&w).

[@BeckyTregear]

Totally fair! I also think there could be better colours per season (Especially for Winter!), but I do like the whole lot together as one big set. I wish the tube of white was twice the size, lol.