November 2024 News
November is a month that is very dear to our heart.
Francesca’s Paints was established and founded on the 14th November 1996 meaning it will be turning 28 this year.
My passion for paints ands colours started in Sydney, Australia, where I lived for 7 years and it was there that I fell in love with the paints and colours of the world.
I discovered this trade working for Porters Paints, the only manufacturer at the time which created traditional and natural paint finishes. I was employed because of my thick Italian accent; all the materials we used were originally from Italy so my accent made the company feel authentic, despite the fact that I actually knew very little at all.
Growing up, I wanted to be a Pianist. Unfortunately, my family did not believe in Music, or Art as business and were not supportive of my studies. After 7 years, I stopped playing. I was confused about what to do as a profession. Finding someone like Peter Lewis, my old boss, who believed in my potential, was fantastic and gave me a lot of confidence. I had taken quite naturally to colour mixing, and within a few years had been promoted as manager and I opened and launch several shops in Sydney. Porter’s Paints was very famous and I loved working there, but after 7 wonderful years with them, I decided it was time to come back to Europe.
Before arriving in Europe, I travelled by motorbike, with a friend to Nepal and India, and I could not believe the beauty and wonders of these two wonderful and extremely colourful countries. We spent 4 months together and what an adventure it was. I never travelled like this before, it was so exhilarating, I felt free and adventurous.
I knew that Italy was not where I wanted to be, because all the interiors at the time were white, no colour at all, and after saying hi to the family in Milan I decided to return to London, where I had previously lived from 1986 to 1989 (before going to Oz).
Farrow & Ball had recently opened the shop in the Fulham Road, Paint Magic and Jacasta Innes were trending , lime wash and paint finishes were a new idea. I got a job in the Farrow & Ball shop as a shop assistant, and for me who has always worked in the making and colouring of the paint, it was not interesting at all. I didn’t even last a full day, I left because I didn’t like it and so as I was walking home I realised how much I liked working with paint and colours and realised and decided that the only way was to do it by myself and pretty much like that, Francesca’s Paints was born.
It is funny to think back to all those years, the people I met along the way, it has been hard at times but the passion and love for what I do has always won over every negative bit. I feel so lucky that I found something that still gives me pleasure and makes me happy. The idea that people enjoy our colours in their home where they feel safe and secure is a great satisfaction.
We started with 24 colours, now we have 247 and we keep creating more custom mixes than ever. When I started, I think I was probably a bit ahead of time, being an eco paint company was not important in the 90s, but for me it has always been, in-fact, we have been one of the first Eco Friendly Paint Companies in the UK, and I am very proud of this.
The greatest joy, for us, is that we are still here, creating and mixing, we are doing things in a very artisan way, we hand mix our paints and colours, we match colours by eye, we are authentic and genuine. And we love what to do.
Birthday Mentions
Wren and I celebrate our birthdays in November, only a mere 2 days apart, so we are a truly complete Scorpio Company but with no stings attached: we get on extremely well, we work hard, we love what we do and we tend to laugh and enjoy our work as much as we can, life is too short. We found our formula of how to do it and we are proud of being real artisans of colour.
November Colours
November marks a new impulse, as we find our fingers floating towards the blankets in order to tug gentle warmth over an exposed shoulder or knee. There is a longing and a reaching, be it for books, for blankets or in some cases for colour.
Autumn brings about the questions of colour that Summer had no interest in. In summer we deal a lot with light: how to maximise it, how to harness it and when to play with it. Autumn’s darker days push our understanding further by asking us, “what should we do when all the light is gone?” It is a gentle prod, a loving challenge. After all, Autumn is by no means a dark time: we are surrounded by nature’s colour exhibits and all the while the sun hangs lower in the sky and floods our houses and offices with ever more golden rays. The days may indeed be shortening but Autumn must be seen as nothing but a celebration of colours and light.
Colour of the Month
With Autumn in full swing and eager eyes taking inspiration from the goldening and the reddening of leaves, is it any surprise that this month’s colour has been Indica Berry from the Indian Summer Collection. A wonderful and rich celebration of depth and vibrancy which fights darkness with depth. Formulated with three different red pigments, making us appreciate the vibrancy of the Organic Red, the earthiness of the Iron Oxide and the zingy punch packed into the Magenta. It pairs well with hot colours and it looks magnificent when colour drenched.
Hope you are having a lovely Month,
Until next time,
Francesca & Wren