Pigment is to painting what tone and key are to music
Pigment is what makes a colour. Some artists’ acrylic paints have 50 times the amount of pigment than regular paints have, making them very colourfast. The more pigment used to create a colour, the higher the price of the paint. So artists’ acrylic paints are expensive, and certain colours cost double the price of others. They are well worth the money, however, and are included in moolee moolee’s price.
Artists’ acrylic paints
Moolee moolee uses artists’ paints of high quality for its indoor murals. The paints are a Swiss brand of acrylics called Lascaux Studio Original, which are non-toxic, water-based, fast-drying, very durable, washable, odourless and hold their vibrant colours for decades. They comply with Swiss regulations, US standards and European standard EN 71-3 on the Safety of Toys.
Primers or Grounds
The longevity of a mural is directly related to the surface preparation of the wall, because any paint is only as good the “ground” it stands on. Moolee moolee recommends painting a mural over a primed surface, especially if a house is old and has many layers of paint, but ultimately the decision lies with the client. If the original wall paint is a high quality water-based polymer (commonly referred to as “latex”) and in very good condition, then a client might want to skip the priming phase. He must know, however, that even the best 100% acrylic household paints are not formulated to last very long — about five years, ten at best in ideal conditions.
For outdoor murals the environment is unforgiving, so with nature is against us, moolee moolee must do everything in its power to counterbalance these effects and slow down the deterioration process. The most important step is surface preparation: it must be thorough and expert, done by the artist or under her supervision.
Artists’ mineral paints
For new houses (without primed walls) or for exterior murals, Keim Paints, one of a kind silicate-based paints from Germany, can be substituted for artists’ acrylics. They are so resistant to harsh climate and so durable that Keim Paints today is the leading natural paint for exterior murals. It is also non-toxic, does not burn to produce toxic gases, is UV resistant and last a lifetime.
Household “latex” paints
Moolee moolee rarely uses household paints for its murals, unless the project involves painting a large surface, requires few colours, few details, is partly hidden by furniture or simply patterned. For example, Patchwork Cow Wearing Stripes, Baby’s Meadow and Aquatic Dream were painted with 100% acrylic household paints. The clients knew that these paints were not comparable with artists’ acrylics and that the quality of paint mattered here, only 100% acrylic household paints were used: for example, Delux, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and BEHR.
Protective Coatings
For certain projects (such as kitchens, bathrooms and especially outdoor walls), it is often recommended to apply a protective coating of acrylic varnish to guard against high wear and tear and the damages from sun exposure. The use of such varnishes is optional, but highly recommended for outdoor murals painted with artists’ acrylics. An acrylic solution varnish containing a UV inhibitor (two thin coatings are better than one for outdoor murals) will delay the fading of colours by at least 10 years. A finishing varnish can be dispensed with on outdoor murals in cases where Keim Paints are used or a natural ageing is desired.
