Matisse Studio Acrylic Paint 120ml - Payne's Grey

Payne’s Grey (PB29 / PBk11) is a rich, moody semi-transparent bluish-grey from the Matisse Studio Series 1 range, composed of Ultramarine Blue (PB29) and Iron Oxide Black (PBk11). Originally developed in the 18th century by British watercolorist William Payne, this shade was intended to offer a more nuanced, atmospheric alternative to stark black, which often flattens and dulls mixtures.

Today’s formulation replaces Payne’s original combination of indigo, lake, and raw sienna with modern, lightfast pigments that replicate the cool, steely elegance of the original. The Matisse version delivers a deep grey that reads nearly black in mass tone, but reveals a soft, bluish undertone as it is diluted or layered.

Ideal for:

• Enhancing depth and dimension in shadows
• Mixing clean, cool shades without muddying
• Softening colours without the harshness of pure black
• Subtle atmospheric effects in watercolour-style layering
  

Its semi-transparent nature allows artists to build soft washes or achieve a bold, inky black through layering making Payne’s Grey a must-have neutral for any versatile acrylic palette.