I’m often asked how I get inspiration for my colors. The answer is in more ways than I can explain. Here is the most recent example of my creative process which produced PPC-DT12 Cherry Cola.

I was shopping in a local grocery store a few weeks back and they were having a one day sale on bing cherries. Now I LOVE cherries. They remind me of my favorite childhood treat, a cherry sundae from our local Dairy Queen. They had so many cherries in the store they were stacked everywhere. You couldn’t leave the store without buying some of these peak- of- the -season beauties. Needless to say I bought some.

I brought them back to the store and customers and staff were all enjoying their deliciousness when I caught one out of the corner of my eye and was mesmerized. I headed straight for the paint cans and in a little while I was on my way to making a color I thought I would call Bing. Here’s were the creative process is sometimes a bit unpredictable. As I was adjusting the color to get it where I thought I wanted it to go, it came to a beautiful red brown unlike anything that I had seen. After a bit of research looking to see if I had duplicated a color from some other manufacturer, I realized that this indeed was a “perfect color” as it was.

As I was walking around the store showing it to people trying to get inspirations for names, Nan Kornfeld our trusty color consultant chimed in with, “Cherry Cola”. I loved it immediately since it represented both where the inspiration started (cherry) and where it ended up (cola).

So this really is as much fun as you might imagine it to be at times. It is always a delight to have a new color born into the collection since it doesn’t happen very often. This one is super saturated with all the richness of the cherry while maintaining it’s overall brown hue. I put it next to my other newest color, PPC-GRN16 Mariposa Spring, and I wanted to run out and paint a room immediately!

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made yesterday’s Dealer of the Year Celebration a record breaking day at G&R Paint. From all the vendors present, to each and every customer who came by, the staff at G&R and myself say THANK YOU.

It was wonderful to see the co-operative spirit of all of the vendors who come together to create the great product mix that G&R customers have come to rely on. From left to right in the picture above we have Peter Geoghan (Pratt & Lambert), Ross Patterson (Corona Brushes), myself (representing C2), Corey Hocker (Pratt & Lambert), Mary Zachman (Mythic Paint), John Lahey (Fine Paints of Europe), and Adam Bell (Preserva-Wood Products).

Also on display yesterday was the generosity and resilience of our customer base, in what is undeniably the toughest economic year they have seen in their lifetimes. We ate, we laughed, we gave out prizes, and we sold a lot of paint! The first half of 2010 is now behind us, and I look forward to the remainder of the year knowing what great vendors I have partnered with, and most importantly what a great community of customers we serve. Thanks to all for the ongoing opportunity to do just that.

As our way of saying thank you to all the loyal G&R Paint customers, we are holding a one day sale on Tuesday June 29th to celebrate our newly received award as Paint Dealer of the Year. Almost everything in the store will be 25% off everyday retail prices. We will have representatives on hand from all our main vendors. John Lahey from Fine Paints of Europe, Mary Zachman from Mythic Paint, Peter Geoghan and Corey Hocker from Pratt & Lambert will all be in attendance. I will of course be there representing for C2 and Philip’s Perfect Colors. Colorist Nan Kornfeld will be on hand in the morning for color questions.

Come by if you’re in need of any paint supplies or just want a chance to talk with a representative of these unique brands that we sell at G&R Paint. There will be free food (Aroma Buena’s famous breakfast burritos), and lots of instant prizes. There will be one lucky customer to win one of the new Graco True Coat hand held battery powered airless spray guns.

Again from everyone at G&R Paint we say THANK YOU, to all who support our ongoing mission to remain San Francisco’s Truly Independent Paint Store!!!

Metamerism is the cause of so many of our color problems, yet few of us know what it is or can explain it even if we do know. Let’s start with a dictionary definition. Metamerism: the visual difference between two color standards when viewed under different light sources. So what this is saying is that it is possible for two colors to appear identical under incandescent light, and yet appear completely different from one another under flourescent or daylight. As the photo above illustrates, in a very dim light we might mistake Cher for Ozzy Osbourne, but in daylight the truth will be revealed! This is an extreme example I used just for fun and to try to get the point across. Our eyes play tricks on us.

I have found it to be true that most of my clients find it is easier to pick out just about any other element for a room rather than the paint color. Clients come to me all the time with carpet samples, fabric samples, tile samples, etc. looking for the perfect color to go with them. They seem to have less trouble picking out these other elements, but when it comes to the paint color, they are stymied. Furthermore, often times they come to me after having picked a color from another manufacturer and once they get it on the wall it doesn’t look a thing like they expected and it no longer seems to co-ordinate with the other elements in the room. What is going on here?

Most of the other elements that we are chosing, be it fabric or tile, are much more complex than your average paint color. There is a translucency and three dimensionality to these items that causes them to reflect light in a myriad of ways. When we view them next to your run-of-the-mill paint color it will invariable appear “flat” and lifeless. This is due in large part to the dumbed down way that most manufacturers formulate their colors. Almost all commercially available paints are formulated with 2 to 3 pigments at maximum. We are given thousands of bad choices, so it is no wonder that it is so difficult to choose successfully.

Another interesting fact that most people are not aware of is that almost all paint chips that you see are not even made from the paint itself. Who knew? Imagine getting a carpet sample, or granite sample that was made from some other material, and then being told that the real thing will look something like it. You can see why this is a wholely unsatifying solution; yet it is the one we  have been living with for decades. As we discussed in Part 4, playing the same note out of a different instument will give us a different sound. In this case we are not even talking about the same notes, since these paint chips are generally made using lacquers that don’t employ the exact same pigments.

So where these two worlds collide is that manufactureres, in order to minimize the metamerism between their paint chips (not made from real paint) and the actual paint, formulate colors with extremely  simple pigment structures. These formulations then have a tendency to look flat (two dimensional) and lifeless when we put them on the wall. We’ve all seen paint colors that just sit there and do nothing once we get them on the wall. No singing, no music…no fun!

So the real problem here is not that traditional paint colors don’t change color at different times of day. All paint colors will change color under differing light sources. The real problem is that traditional manufacturers are so busy making formulas to match their laquer paint chips that they create colors that are by definition uninteresting and lifeless on the wall. At the same time it is not simply a matter of combining some blue, red, and yellow pigments together and voila…a beautiful color that goes with everything! There is artistry involved in developing and honing full spectrum colors that resonate with our “collective color consciousness”, and our natural surroundings. One way or the other the object is to create beautiful colors that are pleasing to the eye.

Next Part 6…Color Marketing,  eeh gads:)

I am so proud to announce that we at G&R Paint Company were recently awarded the 2010 Paint Dealer of the Year Award. This award is given each year by The Paint Dealer Magazine, an industry chronicle dedicated to the independent paint dealer channel. If you have been following our story as it has been unfolding in the past year, you know we have made some pretty big vendor changes at G&R Paint. These changes were made primarily so that we could remain focused on being San Francisco’s Truly Independent Paint Store. To have this recognized by our peers, and to have this story published in the leading journal for our industry, is a unique honor.

Thanks to everyone at The Paint Dealer Magazine, and to all of our customers who give us the opportunity to show our stuff each and every day. To read the full story copy and paste the following link into your browser, or go to the G&R Paint link above.

http://www.philipsperfectcolors.com/PDF/Dealer%20of%20the%20Year.pdf

Congratulations to all the folks at Pratt and Lambert for winning the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates award for interior paint. This award is based on 9800 people who actually painted in the last twelve months with the twenty different brands rated. Unlike some consumer ratings, this one is based on the actual experience of end users. This is the first year that Pratt and Lambert was included in this survey. Now the general public knows what we at G&R Paint have known since the first day we opened - Pratt and Lambert paints are second to none! We are happy to be San Francisco’s premier dealer of the full line of Pratt and Lambert paints. Check out the entire survey at:

 http://www.jdpower.com/homes/ratings/interior-paint-ratings/sortcolumn-1/descending/page-

I am happy to announce the newest addition to my Perfect Color collection. PPC-GRN16 Mariposa Spring is completed. As these recent photos from Yosemite National Park illustrate, Mariposa Spring is a mid-tone green with incredible luminosity that leaps off the wall yet feels perfectly at home. The incredible solitary oak and the brilliant stand of trees show just how spectacular this color is at this time of year. Mariposa Spring will make an incredibly contemporary statement especially when paired with warm grays as Mother Nature has done in these photos. I can also see it in an old Victorian cottage paired with chocolate browns such as PPC-DT8 Hazelnut and lots of antique furniture. Either way you have a color that is timeless and nature inspired. I can’t wait for the next one in the collection…Mariposa Summer.

I find myself answering some of the same questions over and over again on a daily basis. One of these is about the different sheens of paint. There is an amazing amount of confusion on this topic. Most but not all paint manufacturers agree on basic terminology here. There is also some debate about what sheens should be used where and in what rooms. I will attempt to put this all into some perspective.

First off let’s establish the generally accepted order of sheens, ranging from the flattest to the shiniest. It goes something like flat, matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, gloss. Like I said earlier, be careful, because some manufacturers like to be clever and switch things around a bit to confuse us all.

FLAT: This category can include everything from a dead flat paint, which is best used on ceilings or very low abuse walls, to a more durable finish, which I prefer to call Matte, (see below). Flat paints are not a good idea in bathrooms, or kitchens or any room that really requires that you wipe the surface regularly. The benefit of flat paint is that it diffuses light in every direction thereby hiding surface imperfections. It is often seen as the most elegant of sheens since it doesn’t compete with art work or other furnishings in the room. You’ve probably heard the term “museum flat” used to describe this look. Museums will use this non-reflective flat to highlight artwork that is dramatically lit.

MATTE: Here is where it gets most confusing. Many people refer to flat paint as being matte. In the paint world, matte is generally speaking, a sheen that is slightly higher than most flat paints. This sheen is designed to be a smoother more durable finish than traditional flats, and allows for more scrubbability. It is an ideal finish for walls where you want durability but not much sheen. I hesitate to recommend it for kitchens and baths, although there are some low use situations where this could work.

EGGSHELL: This is generally considered to be the most versatile and popular sheen. It is a great all around sheen that works almost anywhere. It’s smooth finish and low sheen refer to the photo above, not a color. This is one of the most common misperceptions around eggshell. When I ask if someone wants eggshell paint they sometimes say, “No I was looking for something a bit darker.” So you see the fun never stops. I do not recommend eggshell paint on large ceilings as its light reflection causes all sorts of problems on this difficult-to-paint surface. Roller tracks and things you never knew were there will suddenly jump out at you with a vengeance.

SATIN: Less shiny than traditional semi-gloss, satin is a great choice for wood trim, kitchens, and bathrooms,  especially in older homes with less than perfect substrates. Satin is really too shiny for most living spaces such as living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, etc.

SEMI-GLOSS: This is the sheen most people think of when they think of painting their trim. Its higher sheen makes it more washable than the others, but it also reveals more surface flaws as well. In high abuse kitchens, and high humidity bathrooms, semi-gloss adds another level of protection. Aesthetically it can make a bold statement in a contemporary setting.

GLOSS/HIGH GLOSS: These two terms are often used interchangeably. They essentially refer to the same thing. Gloss finishes are reserved for the most pristine surfaces, or where you need ultimate protection. The resins used in these paints are harder and more impact resistance. This sheen is rarely used in large doses. It is most often used where its brilliant sheen is seen as a design element. Front doors are one place where both practicality and aesthetics combine to make this a great choice. Surfaces painted with gloss finishes must be prepared perfectly. It is like throwing a beacon light on the surface: you will see every flaw.

I hope this sheds some light on the topic. I realize that I concentrated mostly on interiors in my comments but the same logic can be used on exterior surfaces as well. Lower sheens are less durable but hide imperfections, higher sheens are more durable but reveal flaws. In other words, no flat paint on your trim and no gloss paint on your stucco! I will cover exteriors in more depth in a later post.

If you have ever visited the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in April, then you have experienced the incredibly luminous green that pervades the area at this time of year. I have decided to create some new colors based on the four seasons of Mariposa County where I escape to often. Mariposa Spring will be the first of this series. The color is actually the combination of the light both reflecting through and off of the grass and leaves. Luminosity is the key word and the full spectrum pigmentation of all of my colors helps preserve and recreate this luminosity on your walls. These colors are a full sensory experience. You can feel the color as much as see it. Spring has sprung in Mariposa and it is a glorious celebration of color and fresh hope. Enjoy!

I can think of no better words to describe our in-store event with David Bromstad yesterday…pure joy! From the intimate meeting with designers in the morning, to the larger group of customers, painters, and fans in the afternoon, David charmed and wowed the crowd with his personality, design savvy,  and wicked sense of humor. Pictured above are a few of my staff and myself rollicking in the afterglow of this fun time. David painted a picture while the crowd asked questions, and one lucky winner went home with a Bromstad original! The funny thing was the winner had earlier talked about a problem coordinating with a yellow sofa that she had purchased. Without even knowing it David painted her the perfect solution. It was a pure joy to host someone so gracious and generous of spirit. I found myself grinning the whole time and I know everyone left the store more enlivened and inspired than when they arrived.

David talked about the new episodes of Color Splash Miami, which begin airing on HGTV in July. A new crew, a new city, and bigger budgets. San Francisco was home to the first 3 seasons of Color Splash, and many of the people in attendance expressed regret that he has moved on. I wish David good luck on all his upcoming endeavors, and look forward to seeing the new series.

Thanks also to Rocky Prior and Mary Zachman of Mythic Paint who made all of this possible. What a great company to be doing business with. These folks mirror my values of integrity, community and entrepreneurial spirit. Great job!