Learn how to paint terra - cotta pot so you may turn unmistakable stiff pots into colourful accents for your home .
If you ’re look for a fun , easy DIY projectthat you may finish in an afternoon , look no further . Painting terra - cotta pots is a corking way to wrench garden pot and planters into colorful accent for your home or yard . It ’s also a good way to give yourplants and herbsa pretty new home or create a thoughtful handmade giving for a friend . Our dance step - by - step tutorial on how to paint terra - cotta potful will teach you how to make a coolheaded dipped essence for amodern look , but the sky ’s the limit when it comes to your flowerpot design . Terra - cotta pots are inexpensive and readily available in most garden centers and home supplies stores and you may find the residual of the supplies needed in your local craft store . Nowgrab your paintbrushand get get down !
Before You Get Started
Acrylic wiliness pigment is the best option for paint cadaver stack because of its highly pigmented expression . Colors will be smart and concentrated , especially if you use primer and multiple coats of paint . surface the painted surface with spray shellac help seal the finish and make it urine - resistant so that you could practice your pots outside .
Although terra - cotta is a durable material , it ’s upright to lend the pots in when the weather condition convey cold as they can break up infreezing consideration . To strip painted clay pots , mildly pass over them down with a damp cloth as needed .
How to Paint Terra-cotta Pots
Supplies Needed
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace
First , prepare your workspace and ensure you are in a well - ventilated arena . Line your work open with Kraft newspaper or newspapers and get all your provision out so they ’re ready to grab when you demand them .
Step 2: Clean the Pot
Make certain that the terra - cotta jackpot and saucer are both clean . Remove any price tags or stickersif the wad is Modern as well as any junk or dirt if you are repurposing an older pot . Wipe it down with a dampish microfiber fabric and let it dry completely .
Step 3: Create a Design
If you want to make a dunk effect , flip out the terra - cotta mickle upside down so the bottom of the weed is facing up . Grab a rubber band and stretch it around the pot at an angle . You could also use more than one rubber band for a geometric look that make sections for multiple rouge colors . Or skip the rubber isthmus altogether and freehand a design onto the terra - cotta pot , in which case you may jump this step .
Step 4: Apply a Coat of Primer
Using a paintbrush , apply an evencoat of primerto the area below the safe dance orchestra or the part created by multiple rubber isthmus , and allow it dry entirely . Apply an even coat of primer coat to the inside and sides of the saucer , then let it dry out whole as well .
Step 5: Start Painting
Once the undercoat on the terra - cotta pot and discus has dried whole , you ’re ready to start paint . If you chose to go with a paint - dip pattern , begin to apply a thin coat of acrylic craft blusher on the set surface area below the gum elastic band . If you used multiple safe band , use multiplepaint colorsin the prim areas they section off . Do the same with the disc , covering the prim surface area with an even coating of blusher . You may need two or three coats of paint to reach a lustrous , concentrated colouration .
Make certain to let each layer of rouge dry out whole before applying the next , as this will ensure a smooth polish and prevent flaking .
Step 6: Wrap Pot in Aluminum Foil
Next , shoot off a bit of aluminum foil and wrap the unpainted half of the terra - cotta deal with it , using the rubber dance band as your templet . Use masking tape recording to stop up the foil in place and to hide any gaps between the rubber band and the foil that would give away the terra - cotta pot surface . If you used multiple rubber eraser bands and have more of a zigzag invention , just ferment in sections . bust off modest pieces of enhancer and secure them along the rubber band line , ensuring none of the unpainted terra - cotta pot is endanger .
Step 7: Apply Coat of Shellac
entertain it from the recommended aloofness , spray two to three coat of shellac onto the painted portion of your terra - cotta pot , then do the same with the saucer . Let them both dry out completely . The shellac create a smooth refinement and add up a protective stratum to seal the rouge . Anytime you work with paint or shellac , make certain that you are in a well - ventilated area and wear a face mask .
Step 8: Remove Aluminum Foil
Using an X - Acto tongue , cautiously score the rouge along the intact length of the rubber band to gently loose it . trim down the rubber band and tardily peel the masking tape off to remove the enhancer . body of work slowly so as not to damage any of the painted Earth’s surface . Place the paintedclay potinside the disk and it ’s ready to be used around your house .
Additional Painting Options
If you need to go a gradation further , utilize multiple rubber band and paint colouring for a crisscross design or take a paintbrush and freehand polka dots , star , or other form over the top of the painted pots .
Frequently Asked Questions
Watercolor paintsaren’t a good selection for terra - cotta pots , since they are n’t as thick as acrylic paints . Oil paints can be used , but they take months to dry wholly when painted on terra - cotta .
It ’s a good idea to seal terra - cotta pots after you paint them to keep water from seep through the paint . There are self - seal acrylic paints available , so if you use those , there ’s no need to varnish .
No , painting a terra - cotta mess wo n’t affect the plant life it holds as long as you paint the hatful before adding it and let it dry out good . Never paint a terra - cotta pot with a plant life still in it .
Credit: Carson Downing
These pot are so useful because they can last for decades with the right maintenance . However , if they ’re left out in the freeze weather , they could stop up cracking .
If you desire your throne to appearolder and more rustic , sandpaper the good deal to make it look like it ’s been ride outside . Then , apply a light coat of gray and bloodless paint to give the pot a distressed looking . Just make certain you allow some of the pot ’s natural people of colour to show through to make the effect appear naturalistic .
