The History Behind Peerless Paints

The company itself was founded in 1885 (you read that right - over 130 years ago) by a dashing chemist named Chaz Nicholson. He had stumbled on a new, better, more fun way to colorize black and white photographs and had to share it with the world. Turns out watercolor artists all around the world liked these new paints almost better than the photographers did!

And just like that Nicholson's Peerless Transparent Watercolors was born. Although our paints are still used by a few museums and college level traditional photography to tint and restore photographs our paints are much more geared to watercolor artists these days.

Our family

We must love keeping old things in working order because I'm typing this from the porch of our house that was built in 1902. We moved into the city (well into the town portion of our small town) so that we could both be closer to where we work.

We have 2 awesome baby girls and 4 dogs that love to follow the girls around and act as a team of organic rumbas - picking up every spare piece of food our daughter drops (they eat pretty good.)

Cassie also runs a fantastic coffee shop that she owns in town - steering it through COVID was certainly a trial but she managed to make the coffee shop even better during this crazy time while keeping our employees and customers as healthy and safe as possible.

She's also a much better artist! I grew up playing instruments so that has been my dominant art form for as long as I remember but I'm having a blast getting better and better at painting.

Our Peerless Paints Community

The other artists in the Peerless community have been so fun to meet and have been an invaluable resource as far as learning how to paint goes. I've never been made to feel small or dumb for asking questions and that speaks volumes to the artists that are part of the storied tradition of our little family-run business.

Thank you so much for checking out our shop and do not hesitate to reach out with any question you may have! Stay awesome 

Learn more about what you can do with our watercolors

  • How to use Our Paints

    There are different ways you can use our products, check them out here

  • Shop our Products

    Want to paint on the go or at home? See what products are right for you here