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Our story

A studio built on good color & better company.

Five decades of helping makers find their next favorite tool. Same family. Same studio. Same conviction that art belongs to everyone.

— Chapter one

It started in a sun-warmed garage in 1972.

Our founder, Greta Rivers, was an oil painter who could never find the right brush at her local hardware store. So she did what makers do — she sourced her own. Then her neighbors started asking. Then their neighbors. Five decades later, that little garage is now a sun-drenched corner shop on Sunshine Avenue.

We are still hand-picking every single product on these shelves. Still drinking too much coffee. Still convinced that the right tools change everything.

Vintage photo of the original studio
CIRCA
1972
— What we believe

Four things we keep close.

Sustainably sourced

Every product is reviewed for ingredients, packaging, and supply chain. We say no often, so you can say yes confidently.

Family-owned

Three generations have stocked these shelves. Three generations have spilled coffee on the back-room ledger. We mean it.

Studio-tested

Nothing makes the shelves until someone on the team has actually used it. We are picky on purpose.

For the community

5% of every sale funds free workshops for students in our city. Art belongs to everyone, and we mean to keep it that way.

— The crew

Meet the makers behind the shop.

Greta

Greta Rivers

Founder · Painter

Started this shop in a garage. Still mixes her own oils and tells the best stories.

Mona

Mona Rivers

Curation Lead · Illustrator

Tests every brush, paint, and pad. Believes the right tools change the work.

Jules

Jules Rivers

Workshops · Printmaker

Hosts our monthly classes. Has met every dog in the neighborhood. Twice.

Come say hi.
Or shop a little.
Or both.

Walk into the shop, browse online, or drop us a postcard. We are all ears, all eyes, and absolutely full of paint.