CHALK PAINT with Annie Sloan
By leading the decorative painting revolution over the last twenty-five years , British artist Annie Sloan has become perhaps the world ’ s most respected expert in decorative paint . Alongside her unique and hugely versatile decorative paint , Chalk Paint , Annie has inspired generations with her open , lively , and creative approach to getting great results . Annie ’ s fine art background and contagious enthusiasm for decorative painting have motivated both home painters and experienced professionals and unlocked countless creative potentials . She has travelled Europe and North America , sharing her love for paint and color and teaching her techniques for home decoration through sold-out lecture tours and intimate workshops . She has also published twenty-five books on decorative painting , selling well over two million copies worldwide .
Annie has chosen her palette of colors carefully . It ranges from soft , pale hues to bright , vivid tones reminiscent of historic European décor as well as strong twentieth-century colors . The colors have been expertly chosen to meet every taste . They all mix well together , making the possibilities endless . And you can add beautiful patinas to your surfaces with Annie Sloan Soft Wax — available in clear , dark , white , and black .
“ My background is fine art ,” says Annie , “ so I ’ m impressed not just by pretty colors , but by the colors of old painted furniture , which came from pigments . In the old days , painters made their own paints by buying pigments , grinding them , and making paints for themselves . So that ’ s what I ’ ve done .… I ’ ve adapted and changed them to what people like , and to colors that will mix well .”
NEW CHALK PAINT COLORS In 2016 , Annie introduced new Chalk Paint colors — Giverny , Amsterdam Green , and Honfleur — for the first time in two years :
• Giverny , once home to Claude Monet ’ s northern France manor and garden , is the inspiration behind , and name of , her
newest shade of blue . A hue similar to one especially popular in twentieth-century interiors , Giverny is a bright , cheerful , clean blue with a green tone . It is perfect for a modern palette and looks great with warm colors such as Barcelona Orange and Scandinavian Pink or cool neutrals like Honfleur and Paloma .
• Amsterdam Green was created with the painted shutters and doors of Amsterdam and Europe in mind . This deep , rich green is a color that is returning to stylish interior palettes . It works particularly well with whites , creams , and botanical imagery as well as with earthy yellows and reds . It pairs well with Primer Red , Arles , and Old Ochre .
• Honfleur , named after a harbor town in Normandy , reminded Annie of the rich , warm browns found in the rustic French countryside . This full-bodied , neutral tone is just what is needed to enrich a palette of brights . It works brilliantly in mid-century modern spaces , and is a great match with Scandinavian Pink , Barcelona Orange , Giverny , Provence , Greek Blue , and Antibes Green . It ’ s also elegant and classical with Louis Blue and Antoinette .
As with all Chalk Paint , Giverny , Amsterdam Green , and Honfleur can be applied with various brushes for a smooth or textured finish , used with various waxes to create different looks and patina on top of the paint , painted on an entire surface or a small space outlined by a stencil , and mixed with water to dye textiles . Additionally , no sanding or primer is necessary prior to paint application .
“ These colors were some of my earliest inspirations when I created Chalk Paint twenty-five years ago ,” explains Annie . “ I feel we ’ ve really succeeded in balancing out our entire range with this collection of hues . They fit right in to the projects I ’ ve been working on , and I couldn ’ t help but experiment with them for my new book , where you ’ ll really see them come to life .”
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