Paint Your Walls With Clay

Sick of painting your walls with stinky solvents that literally take days off your life and microplastics that contaminate the planet forever? Try clay paint: gorgeous mineral color and texture in your home, without the VOCs, microplastics, and heavy metals.

I’m pleased to be offering my new clay painting services in Greater Boston, and the first three clients get free service: only pay for cost of materials. Read on to learn more about this offer and if it’s right for you.

What is clay paint?

Clay paint is paint made mostly out of clay and water, plus pigments, fillers, and binders. Due clay’s attraction to water and itself, clay makes a thick, well-covering paint with beautiful texture and color.

The natural variety of mineral particles and brushed application creates to a natural, stone-like appearance that is gentle on the eyes. Think of how much more pleasing natural plaster finishes are than flat uniform paint: clay paint offers that benefit with less work and cost.

Our clay paint can be applied on previously painted drywall or unpainted drywall.

There are a few clay paints on the market, most of which, unfortunately, still use petrochemical binders and solvents. Not here though: we handcraft our clay paint using purified clay, earth pigments, and wheat paste binder.

You might be thinking, “Wheat? Isn’t that food?” Wheat paste, made from cooked flour, is a strong, stable, transparent binder, due to the cross-linking of starch and gluten molecules that strengthens over time. It has long been traditionally used as a glue, especially in bookbinding. Wheat paste helps clay paint stick to walls, even latex-painted walls, and seals it from dusting. Because it is mixed with clay and dries in hard, thin coats, it becomes inedible to insects. The reason you don’t see wheat paste in off-the-shelf products is because it must be used immediately once prepared. That’s where our clay paint product and services come in: we prepare fresh batches of paint to apply same-day.

Benefits of Clay Paint

• Zero VOCs: actually zero, unlike commercial “zero” or “low” VOC paints that still stink up your house for weeks. Clay paint uses water as its solvent.
• Nontoxic: Using the same clays that potters spend their days elbow-deep in, nontoxic mineral pigments from the widely-respected Earth Pigments Company, and a food-grade binder. No PFAS, no phthalates, etc.
• Soft brushed texture: Hand-applied texture subtly elevates the feel of the room and is gentle on the eyes—like firelight instead of fluorescent strip lights.
• Unique mineral sheen: Clay paints uniquely reflect light despite being mostly matte. Look closely and you’ll see tiny mineral particles: as in nature, you’ll never find utter uniformity in a clay paint.
• No preservatives: Since our clay paints go from mixer to your walls in the same day, there’s no need for preservatives.

Our Colors

We are delighted to offer eighteen beautiful, nature-inspired colors, all made with a variety of clays and nontoxic mineral pigments.

• Lunar, a soft white with neutral-to-warm undertones.
• Cotton, a pale cream with subtly warm undertones
• Armadillo, a subtly peachy tan
• Sand, a sandy neutral with yellow undertones
• Quartzite, a sophisticated griege with cool undertones.
• Stone, a creamy taupe with balanced undertones
• Fawn, a warm, soft taupe
• Dusk, like Stone, with a touch of purple fog
• Eucalyptus, a calming, subtle green
• Slate Cloud, slate blue, lightened up
• Beach Cliff, an elegant pale blue that evokes a quiet day on the coast
• Seafoam, where a touch of viridian brings sea glass to Beach Cliff
• Vintage Rose, a vibrant but not-overwhelming shade of rose
• Dusty Rose, a lovely light pink with balanced undertones
• Sunbaked, a natural, weathered yellow that evokes desert architecture
• Mushroom, a bold, yet versatile medium-deep taupe

More colors will be added in the future, but the introductory offer is limited to those shown above. Custom colors are possible at additional fee—inquire below for details.

All paints are applied with a large brush for subtle, brush-stroked texture. The finish is almost totally matte, with a slight eggshell sheen.

Free Painting – Limited Time Offer

To launch this service, we are looking for three local homeowners who are looking for an eco-friendly wall refresh. Our first three clients will get a small room painted at material cost only.¹

You may be eligible for this offer if you:

• Live in Greater Boston (including Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Newton, Malden, and Medford)
• Have a small room, hallway, or accent wall to repaint in April, May, or June
  • No kitchens or bathrooms
  • Existing paint or drywall must be in good condition (smooth, non-flaky surface, no severe stains, no high-gloss paint)
• Own the property: sorry, renters not yet eligible.
• Allow photos to be shared of finished and staged work

If this sounds like you, fill out the form below to inquire! Please include:

• Location
• Square foot area of wall/s to be painted
• Timeline – about when would you like to get it done?
• Color of choice from the above list
• Any other questions

This offer is first-come, first-serve! If this offer does not apply to you, keep an eye out for regular rate bookings, which will open mid-year.

1. Terms and conditions apply, inquire for further details. Trip fee may apply based on distance and number of inquiries. ↩︎