My name is Eric Silver, owner and paintmaker, here at Blue Ridge. I started this small company with the simple ideal of, if it is worth doing it is worth doing right. I have always believed in that, and have carried it through everything that I do. I always strive to be the best, and to form relationships with my customers along the way. The value of being able to talk to fellow artists on a daily basis can’t be measured. It has been a true joy to get to know my customers, and view their work. I am an artist, not a business man, but crafting these colors for me is an art. The business part has grown out of the desire to help artists, and by offering exceptional oil colors at good prices, I feel I am. There are plenty of other paint companies out there right now with their own selling points. When someone states that they don’t use any “cheap fillers” they are mearly saying that they don’t use stabilizers in an amount that would be considered a filler (which is their opinion). It is misleading, and I will be the first to say that I use stabilizers in my paints. These stabilizers are necessary, in moderation, to create a usable paint, but there is a fine line between too much and not enough, that only experience can judge. We also hand tube all of our paints, no big deal. We are a small company, and our paints are tubed in small numbers. There are some who would say their paint is somehow special because they hand tube, which is also misleading. We all have our preferred oils, which will give different characteristics. I prefer a linseed and walnut oil blend, where as the industry standard is linseed oil. There again it is a matter of preference, but I feel this helps to create a better paint, one with better handling qualities, as well as drying qualities. We also make our paint in small batches, which to me is a gallon or less at a time, where most companies see small as five gallons. I do feel that I have greater control in smaller batches, as it is much easier to perfect a smaller batch. I would rather make smaller batches more frequently, and still have that personal interaction with the paint. The truth is that there is some good paint being manufactured in the U.S. right now, so the artist has plenty of good options. We are not trying to compete with the larger companies, or the conglomerates. Being the boutique manufacturer allows us many things that we normally wouldn’t see. Taking the time to get things right, and serve our customers above and beyond what is expected, is only possible on a small scale. The possibilities are endless with color, but our founding values will always remain the same. We welcome you to get to know us, as well as our paints, better. Hopefully we can help each other to reach our goals. Happy Painting - Eric FAQ
A: Flemish white is actually a different pigment all together. It is lead sulfate, as opposed to lead carbonate. They are both made from lead, and are similar in opaqueness. However, Flemish white is slightly brighter and has a distinct ropey handling quality. It is a very versatile white, and is the result of many years of trial and error to get it right. When the largest lead white manufacturer decided to cease production of the Flemish white pigment, we decided to invest in enough for the rest of our lives. Since production has stopped we are now the only paint manufacturer to posess this high grade of lead sulfate, as all others are made from car battery lead. We believed in this enough to make sure it will be available for a very long time to come. It has been a lot of hard work, and trial and error, but I can finally say that I am confident that we have the best Flemish White available. Q: What oil do you use to grind your paints, and what else is in them? A: Our colors are ground in a specific blend of alkali refined linseed oil and cold pressed walnut oil, which gives the best of both worlds. Our whites are mostly walnut oil, with some safflower oil to help with brightness. We feel that blending these oils makes for a better paint in all areas, especially in brushing quality. We use aluminum stearate, which is a metallic soap, to stabilize our paints. This is necessary in many modern colors, but is never abused. Q: How are your paints different than all the others? A: This is a very common question, and if I didn’t feel I was making great paint, or better paint, then I wouldn’t be doing this. Most artists are very impressed with the pigment load of our paints, all while being very brushable from the tube. By blending our oils we are able to create user friendly paint that holds the most pigment possible. I am not a marketer or salesman, so I have to rely on my customers to tell my story, which is only possible when they are happy. Along with creating great paint, we firmly believe in treating the customer how we would want to be treated, just the way we were taught. If you ever have a problem we are here to make it right, no matter what that may entail. Q: How did you get into this business? A: I have always sought to know how things work, so it was only natural that I wanted to learn to make paint. While in art school I befriended a Brooklyn painter, who turned me onto Robert Doak paints. Once I ran out I had to call for more, and the next thing I knew I was grinding about 16 colors by hand, in my basement. This was all I needed to be hooked. One thing led to another, and eventually I found myself in front of a roller mill grinding Robert Doak’s paint, while being “groomed” to eventually take over. I learned a great deal from the experience, but in the end there was just too much I couldn’t be a part of, so we split. While this portion of my life was both good and bad, I have built a business that I am extremely proud of, and one that I am happy to work at day in and day out. No one works harder to do what I do, which is a direct result of the passion I have for making great paint. I truly feel that I will be abig part of the future of this industry, and I am in it for the long haul. Q: Where are you located? A: I am in Asheville NC, which is just part of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. There has always been a very vibrant artist community here, which is just one of the many things that makes Asheville special. While we don’t operate a storefront, nor are we open to the public, if you are going to be in the area call ahead and we will show you around. Q: Are you a painter? A: Of course, I feel that I am a painter first, even if I don’t have much time to paint anymore. However, I am making more time to paint recently, and hope to post some pictures of what I do at some point. Q: Do you offer materials in bulk? A: I can make paint in any quantity, so just ask. |
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