Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Artistic License |
| SKU | MQ5-39 |
| Hex | #453F56 |
| RGB | 69, 63, 86 |
| HSL | 256°, 15%, 29% |
| LRV | 5 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| 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.
Closest matches by brand
11 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all purple from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Hirshfield's
Kompozit
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.
Behr Artistic License Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Artistic License from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Behr MQ5-39 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Artistic License
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Artistic License. The nearest is Majestic Purple (SW 6545) at ΔE 4 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Majestic Purple swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Artistic License
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Plum Royale (2070-20), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.95). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5) and carries a cool violet undertone, so it substitutes for Artistic License without repainting risk. See the full Plum Royale swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Artistic License
Valspar has no exact twin of Artistic License. The nearest is Emperor (8003-48G) at ΔE 3.61 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Emperor swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Artistic License
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Artistic License is Blackberry (PPG1172-7) — very close at ΔE 2.99, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5) and carries a cool violet undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackberry swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Artistic License
At Glidden, the closest color to Artistic License is Blackberry (PPG1172-7) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5) and carries a cool violet undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackberry swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Artistic License
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Artistic License is Jellied (342-7DB) — very close at ΔE 2.01, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jellied swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Artistic License
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Artistic License. The nearest is Purple Midnight (HGSW 2401) at ΔE 4 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Purple Midnight swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Artistic License
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is English Violet (DEFD03), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.43). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Artistic License without repainting risk. See the full English Violet swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Artistic License
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Artistic License. The nearest is Bible Black (NO. 225) at ΔE 3.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bible Black swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Artistic License
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Artistic License is Jazlyn (1285) — very close at ΔE 2.68, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 5) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jazlyn swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Artistic License
At Kompozit, the closest color to Artistic License is Jazlyn (1285) — very close at ΔE 2.68, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jazlyn swatch →