Abstract: A coating system includes, as separate components: (a) a hiding pigment-free basecoat composition, including: (i) a basecoat resin; and (ii) a liquid carrier; and (b) and/or (c) as follows: (b) a pigment slurry composition, including: (iii) a hiding pigment; (iv) a rheology modifier; and (v) a liquid carrier; (c) an extender pigment slurry composition, including: (vi) an extender pigment; (vii) a rheology modifier; and (viii) a liquid carrier. The rheology modifier (iv) and/or (vii) includes an organic rheology modifier and an inorganic rheology modifier. The separate components are not mixed together. A method of preparing a coating composition is also disclosed.