(MS) - Joining the ranks of the Frisbee and the Slinky, another forever-young icon of pop culture, spray paint, is about to turn 60, just like the early-stage Baby Boomers who embraced it. Since 1947, when Krylon first began formulating aerosol sprays to preserve fine artwork, spray paint has been shaking up the world of color.To celebrate the milestone, the brand leader is giving home center and craft store shelves a makeover with 15 new colors and finishes, bearing names like Caramel Latte, Sesame Shimmer, Sparkling Canyon, Totally Tangerine and Peekaboo Blue. Additions range from subtle brushed metal shades to elegant silver blue, muted purple, eco-chic olive, and eye-popping anodized orange. Krylon's edgy, ever-evolving color palette, carefully nurtured and culled by top color experts, may be why its name symbolizes vivid color in song lyrics and pop culture poetry.
Not only do changing spray paint colors represent changing times, so do spray paint sales. "Today, about half of all spray paint purchasers are women," says Mark Ksiezyk, Krylon senior product manager. "More women are heads-of-households and undertaking do-it-yourself projects. They want to experiment with color.
"Spray paint is like a speed-date. You can try out a color without any real commitment because it's easy to re-paint; but if you decide it's a keeper, a quality spray paint will give you a smooth, durable finish, with no brush marks."
Product formulations have changed as well. Today, the company's line of finishes includes hammered and textured looks, iridescent and shimmer finishes, translucent glass paints, high-heat barbecue grill paint, powerful rust-inhibitive coatings, and camouflage paint. Also offered are paint pens, squeeze paint and liquid paint in small can sizes.
The company was first to introduce spray paint for direct application to plastic, responding to the increasing use of plastic for items such as patio furniture, shutters, fences, mailboxes and children's toys. With green building in mind, it recently introduced Krylon H20® Latex. It contributes 55 percent less to smog pollution than most solvent-based spray paints, offers no-nicks, no-chips durability and cleans up with soap-and-water.
"All Krylon aerosol paints have been CFC-free for years and the can is recyclable, but a true latex aerosol was a significant advance," Ksiezyk says. "We believe it will comply for years with future changes in air quality regulations."
Ksiezyk attributes the lasting popularity of spray paint not only to trendy new colors but also to convenience. "Where else can you find a home improvement product in which the package is also the application tool?" he asks.
The co-creator of Keep America Beautiful's Graffiti Hurts program discourages use of aerosol paints for graffiti, but welcomes the emergence of a culture in which commissioned works and spray paint art-on-canvas may be sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Last year's spray-painted recreation of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in a restaurant in Waterloo, Iowa, is "truly astonishing," Ksiezyk says.
For more information, go to http://www.krylon.com/.
CAPTION: This spray-painted recreation of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in a restaurant in Waterloo, Iowa proves that spray paint is a versatile medium.
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