Lel's Lustre Metallic Pigments – UK Stockist
Lel's Lustre metallic pigment powders by Made by Marley. Mix into glaze, wax, topcoat or resin for metallic furniture finishes and gilding. Not cosmetic or food safe.
Lel's Lustre is a loose metallic pigment — a finely milled powder that gets mixed into something else rather than used on its own. What it becomes depends entirely on what you stir it into, and that is rather the point of it.
Mixed into a glaze it makes a smooth, semi-transparent metallic wash for layering over paint. Mixed into wax it buffs up to a solid metallic shine, which is the quickest route to gilding carved detail or raised moulding. Stirred into a topcoat it turns into thick, paintable liquid metal for trim and embellishments. Mixed with water alone it behaves like a metallic watercolour. It also works into acrylic paint, resin, and polymer or air-dry clay.
No mixing ratios are given, and deliberately so — Made by Marley intend it to be tested rather than measured. Start with a little, add more, and make a note of what worked.
Not cosmetic or food safe.
Made in the Scottish Borders by Lesley of Made by Marley, for whom the range is named.
- What it is: Finely milled metallic pigment powder
- How it is used: Mixed into a carrier medium — never applied on its own
- Mix into: Glaze medium, topcoat, wax, water, acrylic paint, resin, or polymer and air-dry clay
- Best for: Furniture finishes, gilding carved or textured areas, detailing and trim, mixed media, resin and poured work
- Mixing ratio: None specified — more pigment gives a more opaque metal, less gives a translucent shimmer
- Supplied in: A screw-top jar
- Safety: Not cosmetic or food safe. Read the safety information on the jar before use
- Origin: Made in the UK by Made by Marley
Lel's Lustre is mixed into a carrier medium; it is not applied on its own. Choose the carrier for the effect you want.
- Glaze medium — a smooth, semi-transparent metallic glaze. Best for furniture finishes and layered effects.
- Mod Podge or topcoat — thick, paintable liquid metal. Best for detailing, trim and raised embellishments.
- Wax or finishing wax — buffs to a rich metallic shine. Best for gilding carved or textured areas.
- Water — a shimmering metallic paint. Best for watercolour-style washes and highlights.
- Acrylic paint — adds a subtle metallic sparkle. Best for mixed-media and painting projects.
- Resin — swirls in for glowing, reflective depth. Best for casting, art boards and poured projects.
- Polymer or air-dry clay — mixes through for marbled or metallic effects. Best for jewellery and sculptural work.
Mixing. Made by Marley give no ratios on purpose. Add the pigment a little at a time and stir it right through, then stop when the effect is what you want. More pigment gives a more opaque, more solid metal; less gives a translucent shimmer over whatever is underneath. Mix only as much as you need — once it is in a carrier it will not go back in the jar.
Handling. This is a loose powder, so open and mix it over a covered surface and away from draughts, and wash your hands afterwards. It is not cosmetic or food safe — do not use it on anything that will be worn against skin or that food will touch. Read the safety information printed on the jar before you use it.
Made by Marley are a team of two passionate eco-warriors, based in the Scottish Borders.
Martyn is a DIY champion, repairer extraordinaire and woodworking wizard. He takes all the old pieces of furniture that may have seen better days, and gives them the TLC they need to last for years to come.
Lesley is the artist behind Marley: from design concepts & research to hand painting and finishing touches, Lesley works her magic on every piece of furniture they transform.
Building on their own years of creative experience, their mission includes inspiring others to explore colour and creativity.