We do a lot of these finishes on high-end custom homes. For these finishes, you must use a heavy-bodied glazing stain like the kind Mohawk makes. I don't like using these, as coating failures are quite common. Here is a basic scenario for glazing, which can be adapted to fit most situations. You can also apply an even coat of glaze color and then splash on small amounts of naptha to get nice looking watermarks.
Experimentation is the key.
This step gets you to the final color and you can then apply catalyzed lacquer. I like to do all of the color steps in the vinyl sealer so they get locked into the solvent-release property of the vinyl sealer. I suggest doing test panels and then doing adhesion tests before doing a job. These finishes do not hold up as well as a standard finish and are not always the best choice in a high-traffic or commercial area. You mention you use a paste colorant, and either mineral spirits or naptha to make up your glazes.