Etchr x Ruco Paints | Wild Garden
A little wildness. A whole lot of colour.
Step into Wild Garden, a Limited Edition collaboration with artist Marlena Taylor of Ruco Paints.
At its heart are eight brand-new, exclusive watercolours, each handmade by Marlena herself and presented in her signature handmadevceramic paint pots. From delicate shimmers to beautifully granulating pigments, every colour brings its own character to the page.
Paired with an Etchr sketchbook featuring Marlena's moth artwork, two custom brushes and a colour-mixing guide, Wild Garden brings everything together in one thoughtfully designed painting set.
When you pre-order this set, you'll receive:
- 8 exclusive handmade Ruco watercolours in handmade ceramic paint pots, featuring shimmering, matte and granulating finishes.
- A5 Portrait Etchr Sketchbook, with 52 pages, 300gsm, 100% cotton Cold Press paper, deckled edges and Marlena's gold-foil moth artwork
- 2 custom Etchr watercolour brushes, Round 1 and Round 6, with black-and-gold detailing
- Co-branded black metal tin to house the ceramic paint pots
- Colour guide and mixing guide to explore the palette
- Swatching paper and exclusive illustrated sticker
- Free international shipping
Limited Edition. Available for pre-order.
Early Bird pricing for the first 100 sets!
Help bring Wild Garden to life! 🌿
We need at least 100 pre-orders to make this collaboration happen. If we reach our goal, production goes ahead. If not, you'll receive a full refund within 3 working days of the pre-order period ending.
Estimated shipping: end of January 2027
A note on handmade production: Every watercolour is handmade by Marlena. If pre-orders exceed 300 sets, shipping may take a little longer. We'll keep you updated!
Expand the "Colours & Sketchbook Details" dropdown menu below for details.
COLOURS & SKETCHBOOK DETAILS
2 YEAR WARRANTY
FAQ
Watercolour Collection
Eight brand-new, exclusive watercolours, handmade by Marlena Taylor of Ruco Paints and presented in her signature ceramic paint pots.
| Colour | Transparency | Finish | Lightfastness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetpea | Semi-opaque | Granulating, shimmer | ASTM I |
| Clematis | Semi-transparent | Shimmer | ASTM II |
| Sundrop | Opaque | Matte, granulating | ASTM I |
| Nettle | Semi-opaque | Matte, granulating | ASTM I |
| Zinnia | Opaque | Matte, granulating | ASTM I |
| Yarrow | Opaque | Granulating, shimmer | ASTM I |
| Heather | Opaque | Shimmer, granulating | ASTM II |
| Monarch | Semi-opaque | Shimmer, granulating | ASTM II |
Lightfastness ratings:
- ASTM I: Excellent
-
ASTM II: Very Good
Ratings are based on pigment supplier information, not independent testing of the finished paints.
Paint quantity: Approximately half a pan of watercolour per ceramic pot. Some may contain a little more due to the handmade process.
Ceramic pots: Ruco's Standard-size pots are individually hand-built, fired and glazed. Slight variations in shape, size and finish are part of their handmade character.
Sketchbook Details
- Size: A5 Portrait (148 × 210 mm)
- Pages: 52
- Paper: 300gsm, 100% cotton. Archival grade and acid-free.
- Texture: Cold Press (textured)
- Binding: Lay-flat
- Edges: Deckled
- Cover: Black PU with Marlena's original moth-and-floral illustration in matte gold foil
- Finishing: Black elastic closure and ribbon bookmark
Etchr Products
All Etchr products included in this set, such as the sketchbook and brushes, are covered by our two-year limited warranty from the date of purchase. This covers manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship, including breakage or faults that render the product non-functional.
Ruco Paints & Ceramic Pots
Every Ruco watercolour and ceramic pot is individually handcrafted with care and intention.
Slight variations in colour, paint quantity, shape, size and finish are natural characteristics of handmade products and are not considered manufacturing defects.
Damaged or Faulty Items
If any part of your set arrives damaged or has a genuine manufacturing fault, please contact our customer support team so we can help.
These terms do not affect your rights under applicable consumer protection laws.
Are all eight watercolours exclusive to Wild Garden?
Yes! All eight colours were created especially for this collaboration and are exclusively available in the Wild Garden set. They aren't sold individually or in any other Ruco Paints collection.
Are the watercolours and ceramic pots handmade?
Yes! Both the watercolours and their ceramic pots are individually handmade by Marlena of Ruco Paints.
Each pot contains approximately half a pan's worth of watercolour, although some may contain more. Slight variations are a natural part of the handmade process.
What makes these watercolours special?
Wild Garden features eight botanical-inspired colours, combining shimmering, matte and granulating finishes.
For individual colour properties, including transparency, finish and lightfastness ratings, please see Colours & Sketchbook Details above.
Are the watercolours vegan-friendly and non-toxic?
Yes! Ruco watercolours are vegan-friendly and non-toxic. Marlena makes her binder fresh in small batches using water, gum arabic, glycerin and rosemary oil, without honey or other animal-derived ingredients.
Where do the pigments come from?
Marlena carefully selects high-quality pigments, favouring natural pigments and Australian small businesses wherever possible. She also prioritises ethically sourced mica.
What sketchbook is included?
An A5 Portrait Etchr Sketchbook with 52 pages, featuring 300gsm, 100% cotton Cold Press watercolour paper, deckled edges and lay-flat binding.
Its black cover features Marlena's original moth artwork in gold foil. Full specifications are available under Colours & Sketchbook Details.
What brushes are included?
Two custom Etchr round brushes, sizes 1 and 6, with black handles and matte gold-coloured detailing.
Made with durable 0.10mm PBT synthetic fibres designed to mimic the feel and performance of natural red sable hair, they're suitable for watercolour, gouache and acrylic.
Does the set include a colour-mixing guide?
Yes! You'll receive a colour guide and a mixing guide featuring suggested combinations using the eight Wild Garden colours, along with swatching paper to explore the palette yourself.
How do pre-orders work?
Wild Garden needs at least 100 pre-orders to come to life.
If we reach our goal, we'll move forward with production. If we don't, you'll receive a full refund within 3 working days of the pre-order period ending.
As every watercolour is handmade by Marlena, orders exceeding 300 sets may require additional production time. We'll keep you updated along the way.
When will my order ship?
Estimated shipping: Late January 2027.
Our initial production timeline is based on up to 300 sets. If pre-orders exceed this quantity, additional production time may be needed, which could affect shipping dates.
We'll communicate any changes along the way.
How should I care for the handmade watercolours?
Activate your colours with a drop of water or a light mist before painting.
After use, allow the paints to dry completely before closing and storing the tin.
Will my set look exactly like the photos?
The photos represent the intended design of the Wild Garden collection. As the watercolours are handmade, slight variations in appearance are natural.
About the Artist
Marlena Taylor is the artist and founder behind Ruco Paints, an Australian small-batch watercolour brand rooted in creativity, craftsmanship and intentional making.
A professional watercolour artist and mother, Marlena created Ruco from a desire to build a creative life around her family. Today, she handcrafts her paints using carefully selected pigments and her own natural, vegan binder. Even Ruco's signature ceramic paint pots are hand-built, fired and glazed in small batches.
Her collections are deliberately limited, with a focus on quality, thoughtful materials and the beauty of the creative process.
At the heart of Marlena's work is a simple philosophy: art supplies should inspire creativity, not simply serve it.
Discover more of her work at rucopaints.com
About this Collaboration
Wild Garden grew from a shared appreciation for the beauty of nature, thoughtful craftsmanship and the joy of creating with beautiful tools.
Together with Marlena, we've developed eight entirely new watercolours, inspired by the colours and textures of a wild garden. Each is handmade by Marlena and presented in her signature ceramic paint pots, bringing together delicate shimmers, rich granulation and earthy, matte finishes.
Painted entirely using the eight exclusive Wild Garden colours, Marlena's original moth-and-floral illustration brings the collection to life, from the gold-foil Etchr sketchbook to the illustrated packaging. Two custom brushes and a colour-mixing guide complete the experience.
It's Ruco's handmade colour and Etchr's watercolour paper, brought together in one exclusive collection made to inspire your creativity.
