Clay Paint, Decoration, Design trends, Hand Painted, Moods

Get Your Hands Dirty: Painting Terracotta Pots with Clay Paint

Terracotta pots are an excellent way to add style and flair to your yard or garden without breaking the bank. The best part is, terracotta pots can easily be painted with clay paint to match your existing decor. Here’s how to do it right!

How to Paint Terracotta Pots - Sand and Sisal

Featured Image: Courtesy Sand and Sisal

Don’t Wash The Pot Beforehand

Paint can’t stick to an oily surface, advises Elaine Edson, a painter who has been working with clay paints since 1989. In other words, if you don’t wash your pots first it is often much more difficult to paint over the dirt. Another important tip for painting terracotta pots is not to use too much paint. You want to get the smooth texture of the pot without having to apply many layers of paint.
One mistake that many beginning painters make when starting out is thinking they have to have one solid color all over their pot. There are actually many different ways to paint terracotta pots with clay paint. For example, adding another color while the first coat of paint is wet gives a really interesting effect where you can see both colors swirling together as they dry.

Some “Do’s and Don’ts when Painting with Clay Paint

Tips And Tricks Of Painting Terracotta Pots

Painting pots is a fun way to bring your home’s décor up to date. It can be time consuming and messy, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some quick tips and tricks for painting terra cotta pots that will help you get the job done in less time.

  • Start by cleaning up and washing your pots
  • Roll on the paint evenly, starting from the bottom of the pot and upwards. Don’t forget to work your way around all sides as well as the bottom. And make sure not to miss any spots like the inside lip or feet
  • Go wild with the colours. Spring is a season of colours and sky is the limit when painting with Clay paints. Check out our palettes here
  • For extra protection against stains, brush on a coat of polyurethane when finished painting. Be sure not to touch until dry

Painting Terracotta Pots Like the Pros: Easy Tutorial (2022)

Featured Image: Courtesy First Day of Home

Mix the Paint Thoroughly

It is important to mix the paint thoroughly in order to create an even, opaque coat. The best way to do this is to use a paint shaker, or simply shake the jar vigorously before opening the paint jar.

Apply Two Coats Of Paint To The Pot

Clay paint comes in many different colours so you can customize the look of your pot. Blue Rock clay mineral paints are primer ready paints. You can apply the paint as is on the pots and they will seep in to give you a beautiful finish. Apply at least two coats of paint to get  complete coverage. However, it all depends on your style of painting and the design you would like to create.

Here you can learn more about how to clay paint a furniture piece “Steps to clay paint your furniture pieces” 

Once Dry, Add A Layer of Polycrylic Overcoat

Earthen pots are a beautiful and sustainable way to store your garden produce. Once painted and dry, these pots need to be sealed with a sealer / layer of polycrylic before using them in the garden or kitchen garden for herbs or giving as a gift.

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