Painting a ceramic pot is a great activity to do at home, whether you’re alone, with kids, or with family and friends. Not only does it add life to your existing ceramic pots around the house, but it also exercises your creativity.
With that said, how do you paint a ceramic pot? What are the tools that you’ll need? How can you paint them without looking ugly and how can the color stick to the ceramic pots? In this article, we wrote some guides to help you in choosing ceramic pot paint, as well as how to paint your pots.
Brush Painting Ceramics pot
Ceramic pots are an elegant addition to any home. However, instead of sticking to some regular and boring white pieces, why not add splashes of color to them? If you want to achieve a minimalist effect to your ceramic pots, here’s an easy way to do it yourself at home:
Tools:
- acrylic paint (any colors)
- pots to be painted on
- large brush (old, unsightly bristles are okay)
- small flathead brush
- kraft paper
- table
- apron, old clothes, or extra change of clothes
- pencil
Step by step:
- Pour your desired paint into containers for easy access with a brush.
- Cover the surface of your work area using kraft paper to avoid splatters and reduce clean-up hassle.
- Dip your brush in the paint and wipe on the inside of your container to remove excess.
- Start splattering your paint onto the ceramic on all the sides that you want. Let it dry.
- Switch to a new color using a different brush. Do the same steps as above.
- Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours.
- Draw lines around either the rim or the bottom of the pot using a pencil.
- Paint over the lines using a flat head brush. You choose whatever design you like and whatever color you prefer for this. You can make the lines long or short.
Caution:
- Be careful not to splatter paint on your clothes. If you’re worried, you can use an apron, have an extra change of clothes, or wear clothes that you’re ready to have paint splattered all over, since acrylic is difficult to clean on fabric.
- It’s best to do this technique in a large room or outdoors to prevent splatters of paint on the floor or any home furniture or wall.
- Make sure you clean up quickly as acrylic will dry fast on a brush if left there for a while, especially under the sun.
Ideas:
- You can make the lines alternating in position when you make your pattern. This creates movement in your design. You can also create alternating long and short lines.
- Try adding dots with the lines or use dots instead. Use the tip of the flat brush for this or you can use a different smaller brush with a pointed end. Alternatively, you can use a Q-tip for this technique.
- The recommended is at least 2 colors in one go but when it comes to your project, you choose what you think goes best with your ceramic pot!
- When you make lines with the pencil onto the ceramic pot, make sure you don’t make them too dark, or else they might show underneath the paint.
How to Spray Painting Ceramic pots
Gardening hobbies have been all over the community during these tough times when people can’t easily go outside. If you’re one of the people who turned their backyard into a haven for plants, here are ways you can decorate your ceramic pots using spray paint:
Prepare:
- spray paint
- ceramic pots
- running water from a faucet
- large cardboard
- painting materials (indicated below in the procedure)
Step by step:
- Wash the pot thoroughly before you spray paint. You can just run it through the faucet without soap and it will do just fine.
- Lay down the large cardboard outdoors. Place your pots over the cardboard and position them apart if you want them to have different colors.
- Give your spray cans a little shake. Then, start spraying your pots as you like them to be.
- Let the pot dry completely.
- Start painting around your pot using any painting material that you like:
- paint pens
- acrylic paint with a brush
- gold metallic paint (add more coats for better pigmentation)
- After you let the designs dry, you can now start using your ceramic pots!
Caution:
- Spray from a distance to avoid too much runoff from the paint.
- Give enough time for the paint to dry before adding new designs, especially for the gold paint.
- Depending on your coloring material, you may have to work fast when fixing mistakes in case it dries up too quickly.
How to Paint and Seal an Already Glazed Ceramic Pot
If you have an already glazed ceramic pot that you want to repaint with a new color to go with your existing décor, here’s an easy way to do it:
Materials:
- glazed ceramic pot
- glass cleaner
- damp cloth
- tissue paper
- painter’s tape
- paint primer
- ceramic outdoor paint
- paintbrushes (large and small)
- gloss acrylic coat
Procedure:
- Clean the pot using glass cleaner since it is glazed. If your plant is in the pot and you can’t get it out, use tissue paper to plug drainage holes to avoid affecting the soil (and thus, protecting the plant). Use tissue paper as well to spread out the glass cleaner when cleaning the glazed pot.
- Sand the surface using sandpaper that you want to paint so that it will stick to it.
- Use any damp cloth to clean the pot.
- Put painter’s tape on areas that you want to paint on.
- Use primer on the surfaces so that your paint will stick easily. What primer does is strengthen the color adhesion of your paint to your pot. Using a primer that’s lighter than your intended color will help the said color show better.
- Start painting the areas that you want to paint. You can use any ceramic outdoor paint for this.
- Wait for the paint to dry before applying new coats to add more color to the pot.
- Remove the tape before applying the gloss.
- About 3 coats of gloss acrylic coat can be added to the pot to seal it properly.
- Your ceramic pot is now ready to be used!
Tips:
- Start with a fine brush around the details.
- Use a big brush on the large areas.
- Shake the paint bottle in between.
- Keep the brushes in some water to keep them smooth and light or wrap them in a sandwich bag.
- Window cleaner can be used to remove paint mistakes.
What type of paint to use on ceramic pots?
Ceramic pots can be painted with acrylic, epoxy paint, latex, and others. Each of them has its pros and cons and it all depends on your preferences since they are all applied differently. Let’s have a look at some of the common FAQs on painting ceramic pots:
Can you paint ceramic with acrylic paint?
Yes, acrylic paint is one of the most budget-friendly paint types out there, which makes sense as to why it’s a common ceramic pot painting project must-have. Moreover, acrylic paint has been used by hobbyist painters as a cheaper alternative to oil color.
Can you paint ceramic with chalk paint?
Yes, chalk paint is effective for ceramics. Certain brands, such as Krylon Fusion, will do the job if you’re painting any ceramic of choice. However, you might want to seal the chalk paint for better durability in case you want to use it for outdoor pots.
Can you paint ceramic with watercolor?
It depends – only unfinished ceramic pottery with a matte texture will make watercolor stick to the pot properly. A glossy surface means that the watercolor will only wash off. However, there are ways to achieve watercolor paint effects by using colored ceramic glazes.
Can you paint ceramic with oil paint?
If you do have oil-based paints, they are usable for ceramics and are quite durable. After all, oil-based paints are used for paintings – and these beautiful paintings remain colorful for years! That’s what makes oil paintings (and the oil paint) expensive.
Spray paint to use on ceramic pots
Ceramic pots can be painted over using simple spray paint. However, be sure to look for a brand that’s appropriate for ceramics to avoid wasting your money. The spray paint could come in various finishes, such as flat/matte, satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss, depending on your preferences.
As indicated below in our tutorials, spray paint can be used to create a flat base for coloring or painting designs on your ceramic pot.
Paint to use on outdoor ceramic pots
If you intend to use your pots outdoors, you’ll have to consider paint that’s suitable for bad weather conditions. Look for acrylic paints that are for outside use. You may also want to glaze your pot to protect the surface from fading.