About Blue Ridge Oil Colors

Blue Ridge Oil Colors was founded in 2007 by Eric Silver, a painter-turned-paintmaker whose curiosity led him from grinding pigments in his basement to mastering the craft under the guidance of professional paintmaker Robert Doak. What began as an experiment with a glass muller evolved into a full-time pursuit, guided by patience, precision, and a deep understanding of what painters truly need.

Today, Blue Ridge is a small, family-run business nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountain in Asheville, North Carolina. From a hillside shop that’s been in the family for generations, they produce small batches of artist-grade oil paint with a strong belief that high-quality materials shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive. By selling directly to artists online and minimizing overhead, Blue Ridge is able to offer exceptional paint at an honest price.

Each color is the result of careful selection, slow milling, and repeated testing until the paint’s texture, richness, and handling feel just right. Their unique blend of linseed and walnut oils gives the paint both clarity and durability, while their whites, ground in walnut and safflower oil, offer luminous, lasting brilliance. The result is a paint that is not only deeply pigmented and beautifully balanced, but one that artists often praise for its exceptional brushability.