Everyone is talking about Annie Sloan… the paint lady. I first discovered her gorgeous range of Chalk Paint™ in a little interiors shop in Baslow, Derbyshire, and I just had to buy a pot. After watching a couple of her online tutorials I got stuck in, transforming a tired old wardrobe into a beautiful new piece of furniture. I couldn’t believe how easy it was! I loved the no-prep formulation and completely understood why Chalk Paint™ has become an interiors phenomenon.
As well as being a paint designer, Annie is an entrepreneur with an ever-expanding empire which covers a mail order business, a website, a shop in her home town of Oxford and over 1,000 stockists throughout the UK, Europe and worldwide. She’s also a teacher and an author of 24 books, which have sold over one and a half million copies. We’re delighted to catch up with her and talk paint, passion and projects. And in the spirit of sharing this month, don’t miss her lovely Christmas giveaway at the end of this interview…
1. How are you ‘doing what you love’?
I feel very lucky to have developed my company around my paint Chalk Paint™. This has enabled me to inspire people to paint, to paint myself and, of course, to write about what I paint!
2. Tell us about your background as a painter and colour expert…
It all started with my father’s interest in Gauguin – there were lots of paintings in my home as a child. There was always talk of art and paint. Then I went on to art school for seven years. It was there that all my tutors were interested in big abstract paintings about colour. It was from these strong influences that I developed my love of paint and colour.
3. Everyone loves Chalk Paint! How did the idea come about?
It was my fascination with how ordinary people painted in farmhouses hundreds of years ago, that led me to develop Chalk Paint™. I wanted a simple straightforward paint that anyone could use. You can paint absolutely anything with it, metals, plastic varnished wood. Anything!
4. When did you realise it could be a viable business and how has it grown?
I always thought it was a viable business it just took a while for the rest of the world to know that. I have been making the paint for 25 years but I didn’t really start promoting it until my children were older. That was about 12 years ago.
5. You’ve painted so many pieces of furniture – which projects are you most proud of?
I have two favourites. The first one is an old 1940s cabinet that features in one of my early books. It’s not very well made but I‘ve have had it for such a long time. It has potato prints all over it, I love it so much I could never get rid of it. I also love my desk it’s an old 1930s desk, I bought ten of them from St Hilda’s College in Oxford. They are really solid oak pieces which I painted and sold in my shop. The one I’ve kept is Old Violet with a little bit of Burgundy and Napoleonic in places. Inside it the desk it’s bright red. I feel it sort of represents who I am.
6. Will you be introducing any new colour palettes in 2015? How do you decide what new colours to add, what’s the process? And how do you come up with the name for each one?
Ah ha yes!!! A colour will naturally have a name, my colours are like an artist’s palette. They are generally attached to history. I have two colours coming out next year to celebrate 25 years of Chalk Paint™ so I might be bringing out a colour I had 25 years ago, hint hint!
7. Inspiring and empowering people is a massive part of your work. How does it feel to be able to share your knowledge and skills in such a huge way? What’s the best bit about it?
I am a natural teacher and communicator, I love sharing my knowledge and passions with others. I like to give people the tools and techniques to inspire their own creativity.
8. What can people expect from taking a workshop or course with you?
Unfortunately due to time constraints I am only teaching my stockists at the moment although in September I did run some workshops at Kirstie Allsopp Handmade Fair which was so much fun.
9. Tell us about your latest book, Annie Sloan’s Room Recipes for Style and Colour…
It’s the first book I have written with my son Felix, which is just lovely. We have similar tastes, but my approach from a Fine Art background obviously differs from Felix’s background in Graphic Design. This, combined with the synthesis of both our generations, means that we are always learning from one another and inspiring each other.
Annie with her son, Felix
We frequently hear that people just can’t get things to look right in their own interiors. I believe this is because they need to really think about what their own personal style is, rather than be swayed by the latest trend. This style can range from anything from Bohemian to Modern Retro, but it’s important to realise that most tastes are a fusion of many styles. It always helps to understand the style of the property you are working with, an extensive Swedish style renovation might not work in a Victorian house, for example, but taking elements of Swedish style might, if that is your preference.
This book has given me the opportunity to talk about how I see my paint as one pot of paint with endless possibilities. It gives people the confidence to make a fusion of style in their homes. I liken it to clothes, you might choose to wear a little sailor skirt but you’d choose a different look on top – not dress head-to-toe like a sailor.
Vintage Floral image from the style chapters in the book (credit Christopher Drake)
Coastal image from the style chapters in the book (credit: Christopher Drake)
10. Why did you decide to buy a second house in France?
Who wouldn’t want to buy in France – I love France. We bought our home there about 20 years ago. Our home in Oxford had a small garden and we wanted to give our three sons more space to explore the outdoors. It has a rustic French feel and I have loved filling it with all my finds over the years.
11. You now have your own range of fabrics too, what inspired that and what is your design philosophy?
Fabrics are essential part of making a home. Take a chair for example – you buy the paint but you take into consideration how the chair is going to look overall. You don’t paint furniture in isolation to the rest of the house – it’s an holistic thing.
Annie launched her fabric collection in 2012 (credit: Penny Millar)
12. What does being creative mean to you?
It’s absolutely who I am, we are all creative in some way or another – it’s not restricted just to artists.
Inspired! Annie designing (credit: Penny Millar)
13. What’s your advice for someone starting out in the world of paint design?
Go with your gut and paint the way you think you should paint.
14. What does the future hold?
My intention is to live a long time – another 30 years at least. Who knows what the future holds – hopefully I can continue to share my passion for paint with people and spend lots more time painting.
The finished article!
Annie’s snapshot…
Best light-bulb moment: When I realised I knew more about my business than anyone else – apart from my husband and business partner, of course.
Must-have item from the Chalk paint range: A tin of Graphite
Favourite room in your own home: My garden room followed closely by my sitting room.
Most on trend colour scheme for winter 2014: My bright red and a bright pink mixed from Emperors Silk and Old White, and also Provence.
Most inspiring book you’ve read: Guns, Germs and Steele by Jared Diamond
First celebrity commission: The mural I painted for Jon Anderson.
Words you live by: Don’t listen to other people’s advice when it comes to running your business.
You can find more information about Annie on her website, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Pinterest, and on her blog. You can also watch tutorials on YouTube or visit her shops.
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SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!
PRIZE: To inspire you to get cracking on your own Chalk Paint challenge Annie is giving you the chance to win this gorgeous creative gift:
- 2 x 100ml sample pot of decorative Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan (worth £5.95 each)
- Small Pure Bristle Annie Sloan Brush (worth £12.95)
- Annie Sloan Workbook, (worth £18.95)
TO ENTER: In the comments below let us know how you plan to use Annie’s Chalk Paint to create something special. Please be sure to include your full name, country, email address, and a link to your blog/website if you have one.
DEADLINE: The giveaway closes at 5pm GMT on Friday 19th December 2014. Any comments left after this time will not be considered. THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED.
SMALL PRINT: There will be one winner who will be chosen from the entries after the deadline, and announced on this blog shortly afterward. The competition is open to anyone over 18 anywhere in the world. There is no cash alternative. Our decision on the winner is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
