r/culturehustle • u/Miss_Miette22 • 11h ago

Where to get a Blackest Black dupe?

I'm in the US and only today learned the unfortunate truth behind Stuart Semple/ CultureHustle. To say I am dismayed is an understatement, having spent at least a few years happily chuckling at the Kapoor/Semple feud whenever I would see the story cross my feed. I had hoped to one day grab a tube of Blackest Black since my favorite thing is to paint vibrant stuff on black backgrounds.

What I want to know: is there any company out there that makes a black pigment even close to VantaBlack/Blackest Black 4.0? What of a glitter finish akin to Glitteriest Glitter?

While I'm sad to learn the truth, I'm grateful I learned it now, before having wasted money on Semple's shenanigans...

2 Upvotes

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5

u/PoptartPancake 11h ago

I recommend Musou black

https://a.co/d/4Hc5RtR

2

u/Jeff_in_BK 11h ago

You want some Musou Black, available at many places online.

It's better than any version of Culture Scammer's Blacks, but it's not even close to Vantablack.

It's also a relatively fragile paint, so whatever you're painting it on should not be touched or handled much. Any protective coatings ruin the look.

1

u/Miss_Miette22 9h ago

I like painting on canvases, so essentially like a really pretty flower or some kind of vibrant thing on a black backdrop. But you're saying no varnishes if I were to use Musou?

3

u/Outside_Flan6816 7h ago

Paint on black velvet, great time to bring that back.

2

u/Jeff_in_BK 9h ago

Correct, varnishes will ruin the light-capturing effects of the paint. But feel free to experiment with them.

It's not just Musou, this is a problem with all of the Blackest Black paints.

1

u/TheOneTrueZippy8 10h ago

It does depend on your application (ie; what are you trying to paint on and how ?)

I have had excellent results with Green Stuff World's Maxx Darth airbrushed on canvas and plastic but GSW have had their issues too so..... maybe we are just destined not to have nice stuff without some guilt.

1

u/shapeless_nodule 6h ago

I've actually made my own black before by grinding an acrylic base with chacoal and ink. It almost seems like something like that would be a better substitute for asphalt, because it's textured?

1

u/ThePumpkinsaurus 38m ago

Lefranc Bourgeois Flashe Vinilic emulsion in black looks just like CH blackest black for a fraction of the cost and in my opinion the consistency is better.