Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush Set for Professionals - 90 Colors, Flexible Tip, Odorless, Xylene Free, Made in Japan

Kuretake, a brand deeply rooted in the tradition of sumi, embodies a lifestyle that celebrates arts and crafts through the harmonious interplay of color and shape. The color black signifies tradition, while yellow and purple symbolize the innovation behind their array of brushes, pens, and paints, all designed to enhance the artistic pursuits of customers. Shapes like circles, squares, and triangles reflect the essence of creativity in arts and crafts.

The ZIG brand, part of Kuretake, has garnered widespread affection for its range of pens and markers. In the 1970s, Japan was facing a significant economic downturn in the aftermath of the war, prompting people to search for affordable yet high-quality stationery. It was during this challenging time that the Kuretake ZIG Fine Liner pen was introduced. The name "ZIG" is inspired by the concept of 'zigzag', exemplifying the fluid, back-and-forth motion intrinsic to writing.

Kuretake Co., Ltd. was founded in 1902 in Nara, Japan. Over the years, the company has gained acclaim as a manufacturer of premium stationery products by merging traditional Sumi Ink, used in Japanese calligraphy, with continuous technological advancements. Recognizing their expertise in multi-colored pigment inks, Kuretake ventured into the arts and crafts sector, further expanding their creative offerings.

Among their exceptional products, the ZIG CLEAN COLOR series stands out. The ZIG CLEAN COLOR Real Brush, for example, is a brush-type watercolor pen perfect for a variety of applications, including illustration, graphic design, lettering, and manga. This pen utilizes water-based dye ink, allowing artists to blend colors seamlessly with water or mix them with other hues from the Real Brush range or a blender.

Users can create beautiful gradients by layering colors; simply apply a darker shade first, and before it dries, add another color on top. This blend of colors opens up possibilities for watercolor art, fine art creations, modern calligraphy, crafts, journaling, card making, and scrapbooking. Artists can also achieve gradient effects by transferring a darker ink directly onto the tip of a lighter-colored pen before painting, enriching their artwork with depth.

The versatility of the pen extends to its application technique. For precision, hold the pen upright to draw fine lines, while angling it allows for broader strokes. Coupled with a water brush, artists can easily achieve stunning blurred effects. Simply wet the pen tip slightly to enable the creation of multiple color gradations from a single shade.

High-quality construction is evident in the flexible bristle brush tip, which allows for both fine and broad lines, making these pens ideal for watercolor painting, brush lettering, and modern calligraphy. The first Kuretake Fude Pen emerged in 1973, leading to the development of numerous brush pens since. The advancements in brush pen technology are evident in the ZIG Clean Color Real Brush, now considered a top-tier watercolor brush pen.

Kuretake products are xylene-free and comply with ASTM D 4236 standards, boasting ACMI certification for safety, including the registered AP mark for sale in the United States. For optimal use, it is recommended to securely close the cap and store the pens horizontally, away from direct sunlight. If the tip feels rough when writing quickly, this is a characteristic trait; if ink appears during slow writing, it indicates the pen is still functional. Please note that the pens are not individually shrink-wrapped, ensuring environmental consideration in packaging.

product information: