Williamsburg Iridescent and Interference paints are permanent, lightfast materials made from metal oxide coated mica flakes ground in alkali refined linseed oil. They produce metallic or angle dependent colors respectively. They work by reflecting and refracting light off and through the very thin oxide coating on the mica flakes. The color emitted depends on the thickness and type of oxide used. These colors are translucent when viewed straight on, but can look slightly more opaque when viewed from an angle.

Interference colors are a special type of iridescent known for their ability to shift from one shimmering color to another as the surface is turned toward and away from a light source. Our interference colors shift from a dominant color, as it is named on the tube, to its compliment. The shift is most dramatic when interference colors are painted over lighter colors or white. When painted over dark colors, especially black, interference colors display their dominant color with an almost holographic radiance, but with little to no compliment color flip. Interference colors work best when painted thinly. Unlike the Iridescents, they do not display color effects well in thicker applications, but rather tend to look cloudy and coarse.

Originating from the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, over one hundred seventy artist quality oil colors are now made in New Berlin, NY. Each color is milled in small batches to provide a unique expression of each pigment used. For that reason, our paints are not homogeneous, as some colors require a very fine grind that results in a rich, smooth paint, while others are best allowed to retain more texture and provide a little more resistance and less gloss.

Technical Detail

Lightfastness rating	N/A
Opacity / Transparency	Transparent
Drying Time	Medium (2-7 days)
Grind	Medium