Pictagrams

With us being in the midst of Winter it feels only right to do a little "Pictagram" on our Winter Limited Edition Colour Kingsley. A colour we know many of you out there have in your hands,  given that the first batch was sold out in 8 days when it was released :-) Amazing.

Kingsley is a  rich multi-pigmented colour that reacts and responds to all types of lighting letting off different hues. Its an incredibly hard colour to capture, we liken it to taking a photo of a child that never sits still.... 

But if you are using it in Premium Chalk Paint, then we all know there are endless ways to manipulate it so here are some ideas on how to manipulate and pair your Kingsley with different coloured waxes. 

The first image shows you the 3 different wooden swatches that have all been painted in Kingsley Premium Chalk Paint as a base first, however each one has had a different coloured wax applied over it. Changing Kingsley dramatically . The one base colour can be interpreted in so many ways to create so many different looks!. 

Peacock Coloured Wax:  lets off a beautiful green hue to Kingsley bringing out the subtle textures in the paint, ideal for both vintage style pieces and for those who are looking to add maybe a coastal vibe to their piece. Pair it with little touches of gold for a luxe take on  your bespoke coastal or vintage piece. 

Adrianna Coloured Wax: A beautiful aged coastal look, keeping the overall tone cool and would pair well with both silver or Vienna Champagne glide. Also a great combo for the bach! 

Matriarch Coloured Wax: If we were to say wax Kingsley Premium Chalk Paint  in our deep aubergine like Purple Matriarch, we're pretty sure  we'd get a few raised eyebrows, but here we show that two makes a  stunning combo, deepening , adding a purple hue and bringing a different life to Kingsley. Great for feature pieces or if your trying to create mood, on a large scale it will add a bit of warmth and subtle aged finish to Kingsley, this combo is certainly bespoke and striking, add a touch of forgotten gold on the edges to finish off for a bit of wow factor. 

The painted leaves  you see in the pictagram are done in Kingsley, with the colour left as it is and two of them have been detailed in Vienna Champagne glide. Work Kingsley in Velvet Luxe for a beautiful contemporary smooth flat finish then detail the handle in Vienna Champagne glide. A beautiful striking and timeless pairing.  

Inspired by  This Pictagram? Visit your Artisan Retailer to explore the colours and finishes in person or if you don't live close to a retailer click here to order online through our website 

Tropical or summer holidays bring a certain energy, vibe and mood to the surface and if theres one colour in the Artisan range that brings these energetic feel good vibes into play it's Tropical Lagoon. A colour that allows for an injection of that holiday energy into your space...permanently 

Tropical Lagoon is so much more than "a  bright bold blue" it's a  rich complex blue with sophisticated complex green undertones creating a unique depth in this Artisan colour making it very reactive to light and shadow. This is one Artisan colour that's comes to  life and adjusts stunningly to it's environment

Tropical Lagoon has the ability to let  off a rich vibrant blue, it can deepen into a mid complex blue through to a blue green and even a green blue depending on the lighting and surrounding environment. There's a stunning range of subtle nuances in this colour  when spread across walls or furniture that will bring any space to life . Often considered as one of Artisan's bright blues what is often unknown is that Tropical Lagoon is one of the most reactive colours that adjusts so beautifully and willingly to it's surrounding. 

In todays pictures you are seeing Tropical Lagoon Velvet Luxe in the background. An Artisan paint and colour that is also in the midst of being used over @artisanathomenz for a vanity makeover, so the imagery is inspired by the mood that is being used for this bathroom makeover and we've also been given a sneek peek of the vanity work in progress with a photo taken at night showing tropical lagoon adjusting and reacting with artificial lighting. 

The use of this gorgeous rich colour paired with hammered gold handles, balanced  off with relaxed rattan textures, earthy wood tones, greenery and pops of yellow mustard tones in the decor is a full ensemble for that "tropical lagoon energy"   created to fit into an interior bathroom space. Keep an eye out for the full reveal.   

When using rich high energy colours like Tropical lagoon but looking to create a relaxed space, pair it with textures and materials that help to balance and calm it, like soft white sheers, linens, relaxed style furniture and decor, natural materials like earthy or oaky wood tones, bamboo, stone effects or dried florals and branches to create a cohesive well balanced space. 


Inspired by  This Pictagram? Visit your Artisan Retailer to explore the colours and finishes in person or if you don't live close to a retailer click here to order online through our website 

Today we're breaking down this Painted colour way inspiration... the finish created on a super old aged table  with plenty of imperfections panted in Premium Chalk Paints and coloured waxes to work in with the imperfection and to create a story. Drawing upon those imperfections and turning them into  features rather than trying to hide them. Of course the beauty is no sanding or priming being required with Premium Chalk Paint , paint straight over the varnish and in order to get this finish you kinda have to paint messy.... which is doable right?!

Before and After 

Brushes 
Painted in Artisan Toulouse Premium Chalk Paint using a Staalmeester 2020 pro hybrid brush in size 18 for most of the table, size 20 for the table top as well as a 2022 pointed tip for the twist legs and fine bevels, it's important to use the right size brush for your project to avoid unwanted build up and also to  make the whole things a breeze, it can be pretty frustrating when you go into a project and realise you don't have the right size brush.

Style of Painting 
The style of painting; is basically painting messy allowing you to create subtle texture, creating subtle movements in your brushstrokes, this is achieved through holding your brush with light pressure while painting, loading up plenty of paint on your brush  and painting in all directions. Toulouse is a beautiful blue with great coverage, you will want to paint 1-2 coats though, what you are looking for is full coverage. Don't worry to much about your brush strokes either, it's pretty forgiving, as you can sand anything you don't want off once it's dried..... once dry follow with a light sand  on the surface to remove any unwanted textures (any bits that look unnatural, but take care not to sand the Premium Chalk Paint down too smoothly, we need brushtrokes! as you sand the brush strokes will come off like chalk dust. It's a step that works like an eraser :-) 

Once the paintings done you head into the fun stuff....

Waxing 
Mix a strong Dusky Fields coloured wax and  apply over your painted surface, work it in one section at a time. Brush it on over the surface  then lightly wipe back and forth with a clean lint free rag, move onto the next section, repeat the steps until you have waxed your entire piece in Dusky Fields, then go back and darken any bevels or corners with your Dusky Fields wax to create lowlights and shadows. 

image shows Dusky Fields wax over Toulouse Premium Chalk Paint

Second Wax 
Mix an even stronger Liberty coloured wax, (this needs to overpower Dusky Fields) Liberty is much lighter so you will need a stronger paint to wax ratio for it be able to overpower Dusky Fields.  Apply "here and there" to lift and knit your colours together, allowing it to blend in  with Dusky Fields in areas and in other areas stand strongly on it's own. Brush on and lightly wipe back and forth with a clean lint free rag. 

Dark Wax
Very lightly brush your Artisan Dark Wax on to deepen and age all the colours and  wipe back with your lint free rag. In some areas wipe firmly to remove some of the coloured waxes and expose your Toulouse paint work, and/or use steel wool  to pull back and show Toulouse and the  underlying subtle  textures.

You can see areas of Toulouse paint finish by wiping firmly after applying dark wax and through using steel wool. Dusky Fields wax framing the edges and creating a lowlight and shadows with the added warmth and age of Artisan Dark Wax.  

Here you can see parts of Liberty coloured wax mixing in with Dusky Fields coloured wax, the lighter areas is where we have steel wooled to highlight the texture and expose the Toulouse Premium Chalk Paint

Here you can see where Liberty coloured wax stands strongly on its own in selected areas, as with the gold read below....

Detail with Finley Gold - Metallic Glaze, brush on in selected areas only and then lightly steel wool back (steel wood grade 000) to create a subtle shimmer or detail specific lines or bevels. (Metallic Glazes used on top of Artisan Waxes is recommended for rustic finishes,  used for decorative detailing) . For a denser metallic highlight add a touch of soft gold here and there and steel wool back.  If you have some sharp edges you may want to highlight those in  either Vienna Champagne - Artisan Glides or in Forgotten Gold - Glides. 

here you see the edges of the legs detailed in metallic glide, the soft light shimmer of Finley Metallic Glaze, pulled back with steel wool on the raised bulb of the leg, and soft gold dappled here and there (the denser gold) and pulled back with steel wool. 

And there you have it,  a gorgeous Artisan Paint Colourway that works well together for an aged but soft blue finish, plenty of depth and interest and ideal for those imperfect pieces you where you want to add some Artisan colour and life into.  

Feel free to book mark this page, and take it in to see your Artisan Retailers.

Premium Chalk Paints & waxes available through all Artisan Retailers

Premium Chalk Paints, waxes and the full Artisan Metallic Alchemy range available through all Premium Artisan Retailers 

Take a look at our retailers page

If you don't have an Artisan retailer near you, you can also order online through our website. 

Artisan Dark Egg is the name but this versatile Artisan colour is so much more than your standard Duck Egg,  it's soft, elegant and restful all wrapped together. This was a colour we took time to carefully craft using our advanced technology to incorporate quality pigments in; as little as  0.01 of a ml to get the colour just right. 

Artisan Duck Egg is a careful balance of green and blue with gentle grey undertones,  we did 15 iterations of this colour before we got it the way we wanted it.
Rich in pigments it sits on a fine and gentle line between green and blue.

Depending on the surrounding colours and lighting it will adjust beautifully to tone in with its environment. It will appear more of a green blue in darker areas (south facing rooms) and more of a blue green in a well lit north facing room, under warm artificial  lighting it will adjust to a beautiful soft and warm green blue, the subtle nuances in this colour drifts elegantly between a soft pale blue and a soft pale green. 

Artisan Duck Egg is extremely versatile in interiors, being able to sit in both a blue or green accented home. It can work beautifully in coastal style homes as well as botanical styled homes, it can work in Scandinavian styled interiors as well as french styled interiors, a stunning colour as it is; available in Matte Estate (wall paint) Velvet Luxe- Hybrid  Chalk Paint and Premium Chalk Paint. 

When it comes to decorative painting with Premium Chalk Paint in this colour there are so many beautiful ways to interpret it, but here in the photos we simply show two versions : 

• DARK WAX: Ages beautifully in dark wax adding further warmth and veering the colour to more of an aged soft Green - Blue, a classic french style combination with a hint of gold  
  
  
• IMPERIAL LINEN COLOURED WAX: A fresh and restful finish, lighten and brightened with an imperial linen coloured wax appearing more of Blue-green and sitting in a more contemporary styled finish
  
  
• The background is simply Artisan Duck Egg in Velvet Luxe a colour that is stunning as it is  
  
  

Whether it's furniture, walls or the outdoors this gorgeous colour is available in the full range and is well worth considering for those who love green or blue or both. A carefully crafted Artisan Duck Egg.  


Inspired by  This Pictagram? Visit your Artisan Retailer to explore the colours and finishes in person or if you don't live close to a retailer click here to order online through our website 

 

The words Earthy and Natural aren't usually associated with pinks but in the case of Artisan Bruised Petal they're the two words that best describe it. A crafted multi-pigmented pink that's understated yet sophisticated. It's a grown up pink that's no where near sweet, it has a beautiful natural earthiness to it that makes it easy to fit into interiors and a great way to inject a bit of colour into a neutral space and still have it restful. 

A stunning multi-pigmented Artisan crafted pink that is also available in Matte Estate Wall Paint; In south facing rooms where there is less light, it will appear a more earthy taupe like pink. In North facing rooms or where there is more natural light, it will appear more of a dusky pink with earthy undertones. In saying this if you are using this in Premium Chalk Paint you can direct this pink in a completely different direction to suit your space with coloured waxes which will completely change it's course. In this Pictagram we show Bruised Petal with the following:

• DARK WAX: Aged and even more earthy with dark wax applied over the top, great for classic pieces with detail, great for creating an old worldly  aged piece in pink that's earthy and neutral (for a pink).  Pair it with gold or champagne for an elegant touch
  
  
• ADRIANNA COLOURED WAX: A lovely soft blue added, providing a limed like finish with Adrianna coloured wax, a beautiful soft finish that can also work in coastal homes or homes with blue accents, a unique combination that is artful and playful and would work well on pieces like a hall table or sideboard with a pink and blue artwork hanging above, or for creating a piece in a kids bedroom.
  
  
• MATRIARCH COLOURED WASH: A two tone pink and purple with Matriarch coloured wash, this takes it more into the purples,  a linear wash will create a soft aged look and if done with texture can also create a lovely rustic finish to the piece   

It pairs well with Rattan, natural linens, greenery, natural rocks and ceramics and lifts beautifully with an Artisan off white. 

This gorgeous earthy natural pink works incredibly well with greenery and is a great pink for outdoor projects in Velvet Luxe, being earthy and natural but enough colour to add life into an outdoor space whether it be on pots or outdoor furniture. 


Inspired by  This Pictagram? Visit your Artisan Retailer to explore the colours and finishes in person or if you don't live close to a retailer click here to order online 

Our Toulouse Blue is a beautiful soft french inspired blue. An Artisan crafted multi-pigmented colour that reacts beautifully to light and shadow. Although a blue, this is quite a feminine blue, often described by customers who use it as "a pretty soft blue" 

A stunning colour as it is, Toulouse blue can also be manipulated in many ways to create further interest and depth to suit you interiors Today's Pictagram shows this gorgeous blue in 5 ways : 

The background shows Toulouse blue simply with clear wax. This is the colour as it is. 

Then further along you see the vase that has been painted in Toulouse Blue with Dark wax, this provides warmth and age to the blue, you can see the dark wax gathering in all the cracks and brushstrokes bringing these details to life. If you are after an aged french blue or an antique blue then Toulouse and Artisan dark wax is a great option.  

Then you have Toulouse with White coloured wax. This lightens the Toulouse and creates more of a pale french blue. On a larger surface it will appear more like a limed french blue, and becomes a very neutral blue, a great finish for those looking for something a little lighter, fresher and a great pairing for both coastal and french inspired interiors. 

We have also paired Toulouse with Dusky Fields coloured wax in the photo which shows a lovely green hue over the Blue, using this darker green over Toulouse will add rustic age & create a lovely aged blue -green paint effect and striking depth to the blue, great for an aged rustic finish 

Toulouse and Liberty coloured wax is a classic pairing creating a beautiful tonal interest,  it's subtle and soft using  both blue and green this finish is soft and pretty and lifts beautifully with a hint of metallics. 

Toulouse is also a lovely colour to consider for painted upholstery, think white frame with a pretty soft blue seat, the fabric in the picture shows Toulouse painted and sealed with clear wax. 

We're also included photos of a piece  done  in Toulouse, using  three of the coloured wax pictured on a table,  Dusky Fields, Liberty and Dark Wax, enhanced with our gold cremes and glazes  and you can find more info on this project by click on the  link here 

The options are endless when it comes to different ways of interpreting Toulouse, a stunning elegant french blue that will add colour and elegance into a space, with endless ways to use this Versatile blue on decorative paint finishes 


Inspired by  This Pictagram? Visit your Artisan Retailer to explore the colours and finishes in person or if you don't live close to a retailer click here to order online 

Autumn is upon us and today we're showcasing a colour Palette of rich warm colours as we head into this season 

The "pictagram" shows Obsidian Blue in Velvet Luxe in the background a dark blue that will adjust to light and shadow appear richer and  deeper in darker spaces and a dark blue with grey undertones in lighter spaces. Great for those who are after a blue with no green. Rich moody and can work in both contemporary and classic spaces. A great colour for the outdoors in Velvet Luxe and has been popular in our Premium Chalk Paint and is often paired with carbon black wax to make it even richer and deeper on furniture. 

Country Mustard is a lovely earthy yellow that works well on it's own but can also be aged and toned down beautifully to make it more organic and earthy with Artisan Dark Wax or use multiple coloured waxes to create even more character and interest as shown on the sideboard 

Firefly for the orange lovers, it's bold and beautiful and great as a coloured wax or as a stand alone colour for a contemporary space. Age and tone it down with dark waxes for a character finish.  A great colour to introduce for creating rusty and rustic finishes, and a great one to consider for Moroccan style interiors, pop it with a bit of blue and gold  or use it as a coloured wax to add a rusty patina to your paint finish. Interpret it in a chic way by finishing with Satin lacquer for added shine and depth and pair it  with gold 

Brickyard is a stunning earthy red, its warm cozy and can be made to be chic at the same time. Pair this with Carbon Black coloured wax for an industrial vibe or with dark wax for a more country style look, finish simply with Satin Lacquer to create a rich earthy chic red. Brickyard is  "a red" that works easily in interiors, not too loud and beautifully earthy. 

This colour Palette and pairing will add an instant Autumn mood to any interiors, it's bold, eclectic and will help to create an instant cozy bespoke space. Whether you use all three as paint finishes in a room on walls , furniture & decor or you use one or two in paint finishes and the others in soft furnishings. Maybe you want to add just one of these colours into your space or use the entire colour palette to set the mood it's all do-able through using colour to create bespoke spaces. 


Inspired by  This Pictagram? Visit your Artisan Retailer to explore the colours and finishes in person or if you don't live close to a retailer click here to order online 

Old Espresso is fast becoming  popular through all of our retailers nationwide and it's not surprising given the versatility that this Artisan neutral provides. When we crafted this colour, we really thought long and hard about what makes a beautiful brown, after all it is a "brown"  we were creating.  End Result, Artisan Old Espresso is so so much more than just a brown...

We crafted this colour with NZ interiors and landscapes in mind, using multiple pigments to balance the tone, depth & richness. We wanted to create a calm, earthy neutral brown that would easily slot into any interior space. We went down the path of crafting a cool earthy brown using multiple pigments to craft a unique  sophisticated depth, it's a brown that can be restful and calming. A tone that could easily be altered through coloured waxes in terms of warming it up or deepening it further. 

Available in the full range,  Velvet Luxe,  indoor outdoor, smooth self levelling (no wax or lacquer required) it sits as a stunning cool earthy sophisticated brown that is easy on the eye and reflects the NZ landscape and scenery pulling the outdoors in (see the background colour of the image what Old Espresso would look like in Velvet Luxe ), you can pair it with both silver or gold and when it comes to dressing around it, it works with most colours in soft furnishing whether it be cool or warm it's super versatile and you can interpret this colour in both a contemporary or classic way in the home. 

The "pictagram" shows Old Espresso Premium Chalk Paint finished simply with clear wax in the background this neutral will deepen a lot further with clear wax and reacts beautifully to light and shadow.

The top right shows a wooden swatch painted in Artisan Calicut with an Old Espresso coloured wax, a great alternative to dark wax for those who are looking to age with a cooler tone. Used as an ageing wax its subtle and elegant not too vintage... and is a great one to consider when ageing lighter neutrals. 

Then you have the two Pebbles both painted in Old Espresso and deepened with Carbon Black coloured wax and dark wax. The carbon black wax provides a contemporary edge and deepens it right down, while the dark wax provides a beautiful richness and warmth to it. 

The branch in the bottom right has been painted in Old Espresso with Calicut coloured wax, creating a washed wood look, these two combination work really well for creating an earthy faux wood look especially on textured paint finishes. 

Then you have the the scroll painted in Soft Gold Metallic Creme then aged with Old Espresso Wax it pairs beautifully with Old Espresso giving it a luxe edge but in saying this silver will also work well and would  add more of a contemporary element to it. 

This one Pictagram shows you multiple ways you can use this colour, how it adjusts and changes with different coloured waxes as well as showing you the colour as it is... if there was one versatile neutral to have in your decorative painting kit, it's Old Espresso for all of it's versatility... 


Inspired by  Old Espresso? Visit your Artisan Retailer to explore the colours and finishes in person or if you don't live close to a retailer click here to order online 

Painting leaves to showcase our Artisan Range of Blues...yep that's us :-) but we're all visual here so we think it's a great way to show the differences. Here we've fanned out some leaves, and painted them all in different blues in our Artisan Velvet Luxe to show you the differences, if your using our Premium Chalk paints, this will be the depth of each colour after you give it a clear wax. 

If you're looking to compare blues or pair a grey with a blue  this might just help to guide you, of course this is only a guide, as colours are best viewed in person or through a sample pot in your lighting and environment.

We've added 2  Artisan greys in here, as we get a lot of questions like which greys works best with blues? So we've selected a dark and a light grey. One of our favs is Stormy Creek, a darker grey with blue undertones. Still Water Grey is a lovely pale grey with subtle blue undertones and Bach Blue is one thats on the cusp of being a pale "blue grey", it can appear more grey or more blue depending on the lighting and is one to consider on both fields of blue and grey. 


Inspired by  Blues? Visit your Artisan Retailer to explore the colours and finishes in person or if you don't live close to a retailer click here to order online 

Inspired by the beautiful NZ summer and beachy days that come with it, today's Pictagram focuses on some of the beautiful beachy blue finishes you can create using Artisan Paints and Products. 

The Background of the image focuses on and shows our beautiful pale  Bach Blue  as it is in  a light soft cool restful blue that is available in Premium Chalk Paint, velvet luxe our hybrid outdoor chalk paint and Matte Estate our wall paint. 

The little sticks show premium chalk paint colours in Hokitika Gorge, Cape Reinga and the ever vibrant and bold Azure Kingfisher (these show the raw Chalk Paint colours (unwaxed) 

The swatch sitting up the top of the image has been painted first, across the entire swatch in Bach Blue Premium Chalk Paint, then masked off in sections with different finishing products applied over the top to show the impact of how your top finishing product can change the overall finish and colour when compared to doing a one colour Bach Blue finish.

From right to left
1: We have our Szofia Metallic Glaze brushed over the top of Bach Blue creating a beautiful soft green hue and shimmery lustre over the top with underlying blue tones. 
2: Secondly we have Hokitika gorge a beautiful mid blue (as seen on one of the sticks) this colour has been used  as a coloured wax then brushed over the top of Bach Blue. A coloured wax is simply a little of our highly pigmented premium chalk paint mixed in with our clear wax creating a lovely soft blue finish
3: Lastly we show Cape Reinga coloured wax brushed over Bach Blue creating depth and contrast and and this combo is great for creating a beachy rustic finish when painted with lots of texture . 

All three finishes have been created using the same base colour, Bach Blue. Whether you are after something with slight depth, shimmer or maybe a flat smooth contemporary one colour finish, it's all possible.  Bach Blue is a versatile colour and a "neutral blue" that is restful and easy to dress around. Some beautiful blues to consider to add a touch of "Beachy" to your interiors. 

Inspired by Beachy Blues? Visit your Artisan Retailer to explore the colours and finishes in person or if you don't live close to a retailer click here to order online 

The Artisan Company is proud to present a range of lacquers beautifully designed & made here in NZ to enhance and protect your precious masterpieces. 

The Artisan Company Lacquer is a premium clear, non-yellowing protective top coat. Designed to be used over our range of artisanal paints to create a durable, wipe-able, water-resistant surface with your chosen sheen level to suit your style and aesthetic.

Sheen levels: Matte 4 - 6%, Satin 10- 15%, Gloss 80 - 90% 

Available in Matte, Satin & Gloss they are virtually odourless and low in VOC. Our lacquers are created with an easy to use viscosity and are also built to minimise clouding or haziness. Key ingredients have been selected to ensure that our lacquers provide our customers with a strong protective top coat over their beautiful painted finishes, so much so we recommend wiping the rim of your can clean each time to ensure you can open it again! 

If you are working on an outdoor project, need a hardy durable surface or working on a high use piece like a dining table, consider finishing with our Premium Lacquers. 

 

Typical Uses :

• For exterior/interior surfaces over Artisanal Paints & Chalk Paints where a durable clear top coat finish is required
• To create a specific sheen level over a paint finish or for creating premium durability on high use items
• Can also be used on other prepared surfaces such as raw wood, native wooden trims, Rimu/ Kauri, etc, window frames, doors, furniture etc.
• Can be used where alkyd (oil based) paints would be used used for durability. The lacquers will exceed the performance of such products, with blocking resistance making it suitable for windows and doors (prevents against sticking and transfer) and is non-yellowing
• Can also be used as a stain/ tannin blocker on furniture prior to painting
• As a top coat over floors painted in The Artisan Company Artisanal paints and chalk paints with abrasion resistance to help against marking

At The Artisan Company we are committed to playing our part in the ongoing care of our environment and people. All of our lacquers are low in VOC's, with low toxicity, ensuring environmental issues are not compromised. Formulated using high-quality ingredients together with leading technology in NZ for a premium high performing lacquer that is durable, reduces mould, mildew & algae attack for outdoors and is water-resistant. Allowing you to create stunning decorative paint finishes that are not only beautiful but also highly functional both indoors and outdoors.

Finishing of your furniture projects is one of the most important parts of the whole painting process, it protects and adds to the aesthetic of your beautiful masterpiece. Our premium lacquer has the ability to change the depth and sheen of your piece 

3 crafted Artisan colours with big bold summer holiday vibes. Works beautifully on their own as bright and bolds, but also a great combo for mixing together for a wide range of blues, greens and teals... they also blend harmoniously and effortlessly together onto a piece as shown in the pictures. A trio staple in your Artisan kit for creating projects with that holiday energy.

With Premium Chalk Paints : Each of these also work beautifully when knocked back with dark wax or carbon black wax, it tones down the colour to suit your space. Dark wax will tone down the colour but also add warmth at the same time creating an aged vintage take on the colours. Carbon Black coloured wax will tone down, deepen and cool down the colours further creating a more modern take on the colours. 

They all pop and pair beautifully with a little Artisan metallics too. See inspiration picture of hall table.  To get the look use Tropical lagoon and knock it right back with Carbon Black Wax with a touch of silver. The Rustic Cabinet pictured has been offset with a little rustic gold, use forgotten gold metallic glide to get the look.

With Velvet Luxe- Hybrid Chalk Paint (indoor-outdoor): These are so great for adding a quick pop of colour to your garden and outdoor space, use it on pots or outdoor furniture. Pictured here you see a customer DIY Project of outdoor chairs done in Azure Kingfisher Velvet Luxe photos sent in by Suzanne L in Auckland which instantly draws the eye and gives the area by the pool a playful welcoming feel. 

Sheen Levels. If you love bright and bold adding a coat of Artisan Satin or Gloss Lacquer over your Premium Chalk Paint or Velvet Luxe finish will richen the colours even further creating a  lustrous glossy finish. Artisan colour with high impact. Ideal for glossy pots, vases and decor.

The options are truly endless and sometimes we all need a little inspo  to reach out for a bright and bold to add that  holiday energy into a space and these 3 are definitely some of our strong contenders for that . 

All available in Velvet Luxe-Hybrid Chalk Paint for outdoor-indoor furniture and projects, Matte Estate Wall Paints and of course in Premium Chalk Paints for decorative finishes. 

 Scroll right down to the bottom for Video on creating an oriental style finish, expand for best view  

Happy Valentines day! In keeping with this romantic day of the year we are focussing on the beauty of Artisan Reds. The colour Red embodies many things from  passion, love, romance and spice right through to danger. It's a bold high impact colour and when it comes to decorative painting there are many ways to interpret it. Mute it down with darker coloured waxes and washes to suit or rev up the volume with a top coat of Artisan gloss lacquer.  Whether it's a nice clean finish through using Artisan Velvet Luxe  or creating a decorative finish through Premium Chalk Paints, you have the freedom to uniquely interpret your Artisan reds to suit your interior styling . 

Here we show you three Artisan Reds 

Brickyard, a deep red, that can be used for industrial style homes when paired with Carbon Black wax  or a Carbon Black wash and satin lacquer for a cool deep red finish which pairs beautifully with black metals.  Off set it with dark silvers and pewters to finish off the industrial look.  For a Farmhouse rustic finish warm Brickyard up and create a vintage style finish with dark wax giving you the appearance of a beautiful vintage aged red that works well with wooden tones in the home.  

Ruby Red is our brightest, loudest red and is a top pick for contemporary spaces wanting a strong bright pop of red. Artisan lacquers create a beautiful rich finish to all Artisan reds and is a great option for creating that red lustrous look. Ruby red is also our top pick for creating  oriental style finishes when used with a carbon black wash and Artisan gloss lacquer but we won't get into this too much as we have a video here for you as our valentines day gift for you. An easy and inspiring way to create an oriental style lacquered finish and the beauty of this is that you don't have to be perfect! works beautifully on pieces with little to no detail with plain straight lines, allowing you to transform it with character into an oriental style lacquered finished . Pull out those plain Jane pieces!     

Sangria is an in between a beautiful pinky wine like red that can fit both contemporary and more traditional styles. Modernise with Carbon Black wax or wash and lacquer or create a more classic look with dark wax. It offsets beautifully with greenery. 

Red is not for the faint hearted  but it certainly has the ability to capture and captivate and when done right. Spread over a piece of furniture in a room it will have the eye drawing towards it as a feature. Inject a little passion and excitement into your space with an Artisan Red.

Knowing how to do a Carbon Black wax is a staple skill in decorative painting with Artisan Premium Chalk Paints. It's the darkest you can go when it comes to waxing and can be used in a myriad of ways to create age, an industrial vibe or to deepen and richen a finish and works wonderfully on darker deeper colours to richen, add life and dimension to the paint finish. 

To create a Carbon Black wax you need to mix your Artisan Clear wax and Premium Chalk Paint in Carbon Black together. This allows you to custom mix the strength of your wax, on deeper darker colours you may go a bit stronger (more premium chalk paint in the mix) for lighter colours you may mix it to be more subtle (less premium chalk paint in the mix). You have the freedom to mix and adjust your Carbon Black wax to suit the colour you've chosen and the type of finish you're after to suit. 

Using Carbon Black wax will mean that you are about to deepen the colour that you have chosen as far as you can. Carbon Black will create a lovely cool tone in your paint finish when compared to Artisan Dark wax which is more of a vintage brown wax and will effectively create a warmer more vintage look to your finish.  

This week we've created a behind the scenes video on helping you to master your Carbon Black wax; which runs you through all the details and a behind the scenes look at using it,  but first  lets take a quick look at some different ways to pair and use Carbon Black wax. 

To Re-create the Look use Old Denim with Carbon Black Wax 

Carbon Black Wax is also a great option for toning down the brighter Artisan colours, it has enough strength to knock these colours right back for mix a contemporary classic look  

To Recreate the look head for Tropical Lagoon and Carbon Black Wax 

To Recreate this look use Azure King Fisher and Carbon Black Wax, pull back with plenty of  clear wax. 

Deepen and richen the colours with Carbon Black Wax 

Create the look with Gretels Forest Premium Chalk Paint and Carbon Black Wax 

now we're about to show you how much the level of strength your Carbon Black wax has will affect your end result the following can be re-created with Clubhouse Grey Premium Chalk Paint with a lower strength Carbon Black Wax, while a higher strength Carbon Black Black over Clubhouse grey will create the finish on the bed. 

recreate the look with clubhouse grey and lower strength carbon black wax pulled back with clear wax.

 

below the same combo but with a stronger strength carbon black wax with more texture in the painting (brushing the Clubhouse grey in all directions) 

and then of course below is a piece completed in Old Espresso and Carbon Black Wax where we've captured a behind the scenes in real time of us working on the project to talk you through how to master Carbon Black wax and all the essentials you need to know on how to control and manipulate Carbon Black waxing.

 

We hope this entry has you all inspired and taken the fear out of using Carbon Black wax and if you happen to reach out for it in one of your finishes be sure to send a photo we would love to see! 

Video below on how to Master Carbon Black Waxing

 

 

 

Learning one simple Artisan Paint technique can open the doors to a myriad  of Artisan paint finishes. With the wide range of crafted artisan colours available, 67 to be exact means you can combine and adjust the colours and create a  colourway to suit your interior space. . Today we want to highlight how one simple technique, can be used to create 4 different looks and more.

First let's take a look at the following Video showing a basic Artisan paint, wash and lacquer in Ruby Glass in action, and then how this can be interpreted in different colourways. Then below we will talk about how this works with  different colours and colourways.

Looks pretty simple right, it is! a few key pointers below for you before we delve into it further . 

What can I create this finish on? 
The finish was created with our Premium Chalk Paint range which means with it's unique ability to adhere to pretty much any surface without sanding or priming allows you  to create this finish on pretty much any surface.  

Paint Messy 
Our Premium Chalk Paint has a FLOWplus technology which means it will allow you to brush and keep brushing over it to perfectly create your texture and  in this case you want to paint in every which way with your Staalmeester series 2020 to create your texture. Don't paint one way, don't paint neat, paint a little messy... do-able right? 

Make sure your base paint finish has good full coverage, as this base needs to be worked further.  2 good coats is required then  leave to completely dry. With Premium Chalk Paint we're talking anywhere from 30mins to 1 hour depending on the environment.  

Create your Wash 

A wash is in basic terms a diluted premium chalk paint colour that will allow you to create a gentle hue and semi transparent layer of colour

Dilute and create your wash in your premium chalk paint colour of choice, bearing in mind that if you have a lighter base like an Artisan white and your wash of choice is as an example is a dark grey; start off with a high dilution with water to make your wash  more subtle to start with. In general darker colours will need to be diluted more  to be subtle and suitable over a light colour but if you want a strong darker coloured wash to overpower a strong base colour then dilute it less.  No nasties, when it comes to diluting and creating your wash. Just simply add water to your premium chalk paint colour to create a runny dye like consistency

TIP: Mix your wash and then try it out on your paint finish first to gage what it will look like , then adjust to suit if needed  by adding more paint or water and reapply to test it out.  

Brush your wash on and rag off blending as you go TIP: Make sure your rag is white, lint free and that it's been folded into a smooth pad, if your rag is wrinkled in your hand you will transfer those wrinkles in your wash effect ( unless that is the intention) 

TIP: If you find your wash is too strong in areas on your piece or you want to highlight areas so that the base colour comes through more; simply dip your brush in plain water and brush over the area you would like to lighten/remove and wipe back, this works like an eraser allow you to work the wash effect until you are happy with it -

GLOSS LACQUER
When you apply Artisan lacquer everything is sealed and set but until that point  you can work the paint effect until you are happy. Apply your Artisan gloss lacquer either with a Staalmeester roller or flat brush keep this linear and neat. For a seamless gloss look apply 2 coats of gloss lacquer as you are bound to miss areas on the first coat. Keep each coat nice and thin.  

NOW that we've run through the basics of the technique and some tips we have some examples below to show; you are not limited to just one wash. With this one technique you can do multiple colour washes over each other for different effects so lets take a closer look 

White and bright with depth and gloss  

 

To Recreate this: 

TIP: When doing multiple washes, make sure each wash is bone dry before you do the next one, a secondary wash should be mixed to be a little stronger to allow it overpower the primary wash if it is a lighter colour/netural.

In this case highly diluted Clubhouse grey to be a subtle wash over Beluga white. Focus on the areas you want to create shadow and make stronger in this wash like edges and corners. At this point your piece may be looking a little grey, but once you do you your next wash in Crisp White it will whiten back up again. In order for your crisp white wash to be more dominant and overpower the Clubhouse grey, this mix should be diluted less and stronger when compared with the Clubhouse grey wash. Once you are happy with the layers of washes seal with Artisan gloss lacquer for that lustrous white finish with grey hues and undertones. 

Lets take a look at the next one in blues : 

Recreate this look by painting in Bach Blue and colour washing in Duck Egg, when you go to dilute Old Denim make sure to dilute with plenty of water as Old Denim can over power both Bach Blue and Duck Egg  very quickly. TIP: The order of your washes and the level of dilution with water plays a big part in the end result. EG) the same colours done in reverse will create something completely different 

Now if you're feeling super creative you can do even more than just two washes take a look at the below 

Recreate this look with: 

Get super with creative with multiple washes. With this look, start off with painting your base coat of Hokitika Gorge, wash with Forget Me Not and then Toulouse. At this point you would have created a gorgeous blue with plenty of depth as a base. With the next colour washes  Cape Reinga and Clubhouse Grey, place only in selected areas and blend out with your rag to shape and shadow. Remember to allow your washes to dry in between layers and if you ever get any patchiness or if you want to remove or blend,  just a little water on your brush back over the area with a wipe with a lint free rag will allow you to do so. 

The Artisan technique of painting a base colour, then diluting colours to do a wash   followed by Artisan gloss lacquer is wonderful Artisan technique that can be done in many many colourways to suit your interiors and is hard wearing finish even suitable for floors. From Blacks with earthy tones to Greens with blue tones. It's a simple finish to achieve with a little know how around the technique and the end result can be spectacular the more adventurous you get.

Create something bespoke with character and depth. Draw colours from your interior space and gently layer those colours with with this technique for a custom piece. The finish can be interpreted to be more contemporary or classic depending on the range of Artisan colours you use. A balance of texture and depth balanced off with a  touch of luxe through a high shine lustrous glossy surface. A formula for the perfect visual balance and with every component playing a part, from the texture to the gentle coloured washes to the high gloss finish and although we say the same technique can be done to create 4 different looks. The reality is, the possibilities of creating various different looks with different colourways are  truly endless. 

 

 

 

 

The Artisan Company Blues. We are excited to have produced what we think is the perfect library of colours for NZ and here we give you a little sneek peek  of them. 

Pictured here are just a select few of the beautiful blues we have carefully formulated, tweaked and perfected for The Artisan Company colour palette.

First, we have Old Denim, inspired by those lovely worn out to perfection denims. A lovely mid blue with strong grey undertones, appearing homely, comforting and relaxed. A beautiful blue that will soften its surroundings gracefully. 

Royal Navy is our dark, rich saturated blue, inspired by the dark blue associated by the Royal NZ Navy. The deep luxurious blue works well Introduced into the home as small pops of colour here and there, drawing your eye around the room creating interest and excitement. Painted on larger pieces of furniture or a wall would create a beautiful statement with a luxurious opulent feel. 

Sea Glass, the blue that stems from old broken glass, tumbled and tossed around on the ocean floor and crashing waves to produce a smooth, playful, a soft luminous blue that is bright, fresh and restful. 

Obsidian Blue is a dark, cool, blue black inspired by the darkness & richness of the obsidian rock. Royal Navy is blue-black that can also appear as black-blue depending on the space and lighting in which the colour sits. Indulge yourself with this stunning blue and enjoy its stunning depth whether it be painted on a wall or a piece of furniture. 

The coastal style is popular in NZ and it's a question we get asked a lot of. "What colours should I use for my holiday home" or "I'm after a beachy look", it's not surprising considering that we are an island surrounded by beautiful beaches and waters. There are many beautiful colour combinations you can use to create your Coastal Style. There are many interpretations of the Coastal look whether your looking for light, fresh and restful, distressed looks with pops of colour, or a coastal luxe style and it goes on... today however we are sharing a beautiful soothing and restful colourway suitable for a Coastal Abode using Coastal inspired colours and neutrals that create a light fresh and serene feel in an interior space  . 

 

Starting with our Beluga white, a beautiful bright grey white, bright but not stark with beautiful complex grey underlying tones,  it pairs well with blues and greys so is always our first pick for Coastal style homes. 

Followed by Royal Navy as our dark anchor for a space and when paired close to Beluga lets of a strong sophisticated coastal vibe. Royal Navy is a beautiful dark deep blue. 

Bach blue is a beautiful pale blue with soft grey undertones, adding a soothing blue to the space that is fresh and soft and sits well with both greys and blues.  

Stormy Creek is our blue based mid grey and also pairs really well with blues followed by sea mist a beautiful pale grey that has subtle warmth, it will still lighten and provide a fresh look and feel but the underlying tones will provide a lovely subtle warmth to the colour palette. 

Whether you're looking to create a Coastal Abode through colours on the walls, like using our Matte Estate Wall paint in  Bach Blue with Beluga skirting in Velvet Luxe  or maybe something a little more dramatic with Royal Navy on the walls with a painted sideboard in Beluga with our Premium Chalk Paints up against it. Or maybe you're looking at a few colours to incorporate in a decorative paint finish as a feature furniture piece in your Coastal Abode such as painting in Stormy creek with a Beluga coloured wax  or Sea Mist with a Bach Blue  coloured wax on your furniture. These are all great colours and neutrals to consider for your Coastal Abode  

The plantation, tropical and resort like styling in an interior space has been popular among our clients this year. With any type of styling and themes there can be many different interpretations. Adjusting one to suit your personality, family and home is always recommended, work with the colours you love and work within a colourway that translates to the setting and story you are looking to create. A great colour design will provide an instant shift in mood from the moment you walk into the room, the eye will wander and the story is set and clear .

Now we are about to give Dor Greige a bit of attention here as it's a neutral that deserves it. Our Tropical Vacation is a colourway that helps to create that resort like feel and story in an interior space. Our beautiful Dor Greige is a warm grey beige and is a complex and sophisticated neutral that can work with both cool and warm colours. It adjusts and tones in easily with its surrounding colours and is extremely versatile in an interior space. When spread across the walls its a difficult neutral to put your finger on, its both grey and beige, it sits somewhere in the middle and a neutral that will work beautifully through all the season, being a little warmer when there is less light and brighter and cooler when there is more light. Dress it with cooler toned decor and accessories in the summer months and with richer warmer colours in the cooler months and Dor Greige will adjust and work beautifully with both.  For a resort like feel Contrast it with crisp white linen curtains, sheers or wooden blinds for an instant restful look in an interior space. 

When looking to use a white with Dor Greige,  whether it be on the skirting, doors or wooden shutters, Old Chiffon as a white is a great option it's an off white but still bright it has underlying warmth to it but with no yellow or cream. When you place it near Dor Greige it will appear as a  bright white but there is a softness to it, that avoids it from being a stark white in this colour way. 

 For a touch of tropics we've chosen Dusky Fields, its adds a natural element to the room its a green for sure but  a restful mid green, it's  a little dusky, making it sit well in serene type spaces but allows you to add the hit of colour. It pairs magnificently with natural earthy woods or warmer tones which if you want to add a luxe element to it will call for dressing with a little gold in the room.  

Then we have Mali.. A beautiful warm neutral, people  like to describe it as camel, sand dune even caramel. However you want to describe it, its a great neutral bordering on colour and great for adding that  touch of warmth and life to space, place it near dusky fields and it will marry in beautifully for a resort like feel.  

To anchor the space we have chosen Ocean Trench a dark dark blue black, a softer alternative to black and won't overpower the colourway but rather work in with it to anchor and compliment it, little pops of it here and there whether it be on a mirror, frames, windowsills,  decor or small pieces furniture is a great addition. 

To create your Tropical Vacation look. Use this colourway to create your space. Choose your predominant colours first and then work from there. As an example you may choose Old Chiffon as your wall colour in our Matt Estate  (if so you would probably go lighter for your skirting and shutters and veer to our crisp white for that) Dusky Fields may be used on a feature wall in the space, with Dor greige on your  main furniture items (with possibly an old chiffon coloured wax) using our premium Chalk Paints. Mali on your feature furniture piece and this may sit against or around the Dusky fields wall with a big mirror in Ocean trench premium chalk paint against the  Old Chiffon wall or even hung over Mali on the Dusky Fields walls.  

Another concept using the same colour way is Dor Greige as your walls  in Matte Estate with Old Chiffon on skirtings & shutters in Velvet Luxe.  Dusky Fields as your feature wall colour with furniture in Premium chalk paint finish in Old chiffon with Dor greige coloured wax, with pops of ocean trench on mirrors,  lamps bases and a feature furniture piece in Mali and on decors such as vases or frames 

Which ever way you choose to co-ordinate these colours and neutrals  in an interior space  they are all great contenders & considerations for creating that Tropical Vacation look in an interior space through walls, furniture, decor, floors using our Artisanal paints and products to create your tropical vacation story.

As important as the colourway is for this look so is the decor, textiles and accessories that you add. To complete the look add in strong earthy wood elements, natural textiles such as linens and rattans (choose rattans that tone in with Mali) plenty of indoor greenery exotic prints that will work well with Ocean Trench. Interesting earthy and natural decor that will sit so beautifully among Dusky Fields and for that touch of luxe a little gold in your decor  

An Earthy colourway can create a calming grounded space that links back to nature and natural elements. Like any interior styling there are many ways you can interpret and create this whether its through lighter earthy tones or through an earthy colourway thats rich and moody. Today we are sharing some beautiful neutrals that will help to create an earthy yet restful space for an interior space. 

Starting with Potters Clay a warm earthy neutral that creates an inviting and homely space. A great colour for walls that lifts beautifully with whites. When it comes to whites for an earthy colourway Wild Tusk is a beautiful option to consider, it will sit as a "bright white" when paired with earthy colours and neutrals, but not too stark, a beautiful soft off white that has some warmth to it but not too yellow.

When looking to differentiate spaces using another neutral to colour block and define spaces is a great idea and when done correctly  it should be different from each other but visually harmonising. Moa is a great colour to sit in the same line of vision as Potters Clay but sits far enough from Potters Clay to create its own little earthy story of its own, and the same goes for Imperial Linen. As an example the living could be in Potters Clay, the hallway that you can see  from the living area in Moa and the dining area which is part of living defined and separated with Imperial Linen through our Matte Estate wall paint. But of course you can customise this all to suit your home, taking into account the natural lighting  in each space on whether you want to make it cosier or open it up. It may be that you want a brighter living area and a cosier dining space so you may switch Imperial Linen into the living and use Potters Clay in the dining instead. 

With an earthy neutral backdrop, it's the accessories, & decor that will really help to polish this look off,  add in earthy woods, greenery, natural textiles, and  natural elements like stone or even marble, if your looking to add colour through your decor   consider olives or dusky greens. However if you want  to keep it completely serene and restful opt for all soft natural tones and textures, like rattan, linen, woven lamp shades or bases but be sure to add greenery for that pop.      

Our Industrial Mood is a great colourway for a modern and contemporary look, its chic and timeless, can be merged with a little luxe using metallics or merged with  a little rustic-ness  with aged woods and metals.  It can be modern and sophisticated and minimal. 

For this we have chosen our lovely Clubhouse Grey a beautiful dark grey almost like a pencil led like grey, Carbon Black which is our richest blackest black paired with Urban Loft a mid grey that when placed around Clubhouse and Carbon Black will be the highlighter and appear a lot lighter, we've also included  Old Espresso for a touch of warmth and earthiness. Old Espresso is a beautiful version of brown but with no red, orange or yellowness to it, its a cool grey based brown with lovely complex underlying tones to create our sophisticated earthy brown that works well for interiors 

These neutrals can be used in different ways and combinations on walls through our Matte Estate,   on doors or cabinetry with our Velvet Luxe and decorative paint effects with our Premium Chalk Paints.  Which ever way you choose to use them this  "colourway" will help to create  an instant Industrial Mood for your interiors. 

One way to use this colourway is through Clubhouse Grey and Urban Loft Matte Estate on your walls using them in a way to define areas and spaces allowing you to play with dark and light drawing spaces in and out visually using light and dark. Both of these neutrals being used together will let off a strong Industrial vibe and a great canvas for you to accessorise around. 

Add pops of carbon black on furniture, decor  and accessories. Or do a decorative paint finish using our Premium Chalk Paints  in a textured Old Espresso with a  Carbon Black coloured wax and you will create some great variations and effects of rustic wood and this can be used on any furniture or even shelving to add this rustic element to it.

To polish it off add a little luxe using metallic golds or silvers, and simple minimalist textiles, like stone washed linens, grain sacks or aged leathers. Select metal work for  furniture and accessories  or do a decorative paint finish on your existing furniture using Carbon black with Old Espresso coloured wax ,with hints of sangria and firefly for an aged rusty metal look.  To balance it all off  add in your metallic for   a little luxe which will refine  this industrial mood into something beautifully bespoke for an interior space.