Behr Artistic License#453F56 · LRV 5
Artistic License reads as a blue / cool — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover the spec, what Behr MQ5-39 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Artistic License |
| SKU | MQ5-39 |
| Hex | #453F56 |
| RGB | 69, 63, 86 |
| HSL | 256°, 15%, 29% |
| LRV | 5 |
| Undertone | blue / cool |
| Family | Purple |
About Behr Artistic License
At LRV 5, Artistic License is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its violet undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Artistic License earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.
Kompozit alternative
The closest hex in the Kompozit deck, ranked by ΔE2000 (perceptual color difference). ΔE under 2 is indistinguishable to most eyes; under 5 is a very close visual match.
Closest matches at every US brand
9 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all purple from that brand.
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Dunn-Edwards
Valspar
Sherwin-Williams
Backdrop
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Artistic License within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #453F56 in HSL space. Pair Artistic License with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.