Nerds Republic

We’ve all been there. You’re shopping for some new paint for your living room, and you’re bombarded with hundreds of paint samples that come complete with confusing names. “Sweet whispers”? “Jazzberry”? “Springtime laughter”? None of those are colors! Can’t there just be a number system or something?

All of that is a bit easier when it comes to the paints that artists use, but even those names can be a bit hard to understand sometimes. What’s even harder to figure out is how these bizarrely named paints will react to each other if you mix them. That’s why Japanese design studio Imai Moteki developed a system called Nameless Paints, which identifies colors by how they’re made.

These paint tubes are marked with the primary colors used to make them. This takes all of those annoying names out of the equation. Can you figure out what color each tube holds?

It also makes people more aware of how to mix their own colors by using a few primaries. In pigments (inks and paints), the primary colors are magenta, yellow, and cyan.

Aside from the three primaries, black, and white, the kit comes with a variety of hues, which are all combinations of the main five.

Without labels, the paints rely on color to communicate, meaning anyone, no matter what language they speak, can use and understand the paints.

Here’s the whole kit. See how many colors you can figure out!

The creators behind Nameless Paint, Yusuke Imai and Ayami Moteki, believe that labeling colors with distinct names can be confusing for children, which can discourage them from experimenting with paint.

“By not assigning names to the colors, we want to expand the definition of what a color can be, and the various shades they can create by mixing them,” explains Imai.

Here are some of the paints. It’s a pretty great selection, and it’s also an educational one!

(via BoredPanda, My Modern Met)

The Nameless Paint kit is available for purchase on Kokuyo, and it’s perfect for beginners of all ages. The kit of 10 paints sells for about $15.

Painting projects have a tendency to seem simple while you plan them, but somehow still end up in disaster mode when it comes time to execute. When this couple decided to add a mural of New York City’s skyline to their living room, it could have easily turned into a messy, paint-splotched heartbreak.

But instead, they took the precautions to keep things clear, easy, and awesome. So cool, in fact, you’ll be inspired to give your wall a whirl yourself.

They used SketchUp to make sure the measurements would line up with their couch.

Then they carefully traced the design’s outline in pencil.

Next came the masking tape, which they were sure to keep on the outside edge of the pencil lines.

Otherwise, those lines might peep through the paint once it’s all done.

They started with a base of white paint.

This way they wouldn’t have to worry about the darker paint seeping under the masking tape.

Once that dries, it’s time to start filling in the pattern with grey paint.

It’s important to wait for the paint to fully dry before peeling off the tape.

But you won’t want to wait too long, either. Their tip: wait for it to stop being shiny.

And voilà! The finished design fit perfectly.

What a simple way to bring a classy look to their living room!

(source Reddit)

After all, who really wants to leave the cozy comfort of their couch to take in the sights of the big city, am I right? No? Just me? Oh well…I’ll be over here with my Netflix, if you need me.

Has your fabric furniture started to fade? Lose its charm? Perhaps it’s sucked up one too many spills for you to be able to tell what its original pattern is.

Before you go ripping away at the cloth and looking for someone to reupholster the whole thing for a pretty penny, you should try grabbing a can of paint, instead. We know it sounds crazy, but wait ’til you see how this guy totally transformed his antique chair.

First, you’ll need a mixture of equal parts acrylic paint, water, and fabric medium.

The original, faded fabric.

Apply the paint mixture in thin layers, sanding after each one.

After the second layer….

After the third layer…

And after the fourth layer, he decided to switch up the color.

The texture at this point has a canvas feel, like outdoor furniture.

He changed the mixture for this color, using half as much fabric medium.

This changes the texture to a more vinyl feel.

After the second layer…

And the third layer…

After the fourth layer, it was completely covered but he wasn’t in love with the look.

So he used more of the same color but with a satin finish and added details with darker paint.

It still felt like vinyl in the end, but much less stiff.

A side by side comparison with the original’s matching piece.

(source Reddit)

He also sanded down the legs to make them lighter and more polished.

The fabric looks like leather, feels like vinyl, and the paint doesn’t rub off. It’s like a brand-new chair! Go ahead and try it on your furniture for an awesome upgrade.

Street art is the perfect way for passionate artists to put their work right in front of everyone’s face. Banksy infamously brought his guerrilla style graffiti art to the public’s attention. Unlike him, however, Gigi Rodgers of Puck’n Khaos doesn’t want to hide her face from the public eye.

In fact, she uses it and the rest of her body as her living canvas. The incredible result, photographed by Paul Chin Jr., will blow your mind.

This beautiful painting looks like something you can stick in a frame — but that’s Rodgers standing in front of a wall.

She takes two hours to fully make herself up with various body and acrylic paints.

There were some difficulties, such as putting on the stiff-painted t-shirt.

Rodgers compared it to “putting on knights armor,” adding she had to have friends help her and almost got a little too claustrophobic.

But it was worth it when she saw how perfectly the photos captured the shadows and texture of the paint, seamlessly blending her into her surroundings.

She dubbed the project “Worlds” and plans to continue with more photos in the future.

Even after staring at these amazing photos, it’s still so hard to believe. Her life-filled eyes looking through the beautifully detailed paint is definitely an image that sticks with you.

To see more of Gigi’s work, visit her online portfolio or Facebook page.