Series 4

In creating this new colour, Derivan wanted to address the concerns of artists who want to be able to employ the benefits of cadmium colours – while remaining completely free of heavy metals.

Many years ago we researched the pigments used in the Matisse cadmium colours. These pigments are sourced and washed with acid to remove all bio-available Cadmium & other heavy metals during their manufacturing process: This produces the safest cadmium colours available on the market and is still in use within our products to this day. Matisse cadmium colours are safe for artists who use best practices (washing hands before they eat, not spray applying colours – in short not ingesting or inhaling their materials!)

We also heard the call from Artists whose practice requires intimate contact with their materials and who required the removal of heavy metals from their paint. So we collaborated with our suppliers to test alternative cadmium-free options whilst trying to maintain Cadmium's unique signatures: mass tone strength and brilliance, colouring ability, opacity, and longevity.

The result is an outstanding colour (use for all the cad-free colours) that is as close to the original as whilst avoiding the heavy metal content.

We will not be removing the traditional cadmium colours from our Matisse acrylic range which contains Cadmium. These colours are time-tested and are less toxic forms of Cadmium when they are employed in best practice. A new colour or pigment won't match up completely; the physics and chemistry can get you pretty close, and we are very happy with the results.

Matisse Structure Formula is a rich impasto acrylic paint. 
The intense, vibrant colours of the Structure Formula paints cover the full
colour spectrum, including several uniquely Australian colours.
Only the finest quality pigments and ingredients are selected for the Matisse range of premium acrylic colours. 
All have the highest lightfastness rating of ASTM 1 or 2 and are archival quality.