Beginner’s Guide to DIY Pottery Painting
Sometimes, you may have pottery at home that you either bought or made yourself. However, any form of pottery is not complete without painting. Painting them adds their aesthetic value while making your kitchen more appealing to the eye. Most people prefer DIY pottery because it is a method that is cheap compared to taking them to a professional painter. Is it possible at home? Yes, you can make and even paint your pottery at home. In this article, we will look at some paints you can use, the methods of DIY pottery painting, and some ideas that you can use. But before even going further, let us understand what pottery is and how to make them.
Home Pottery Painting
Pottery painting is used by potters to add a colorful effect to their art pieces. On most occasions, potters tend to paint their work using other ceramic materials than traditional bright paint. These other ceramic materials fuse to the vessel’s body when fired to maturity; therefore, they are not prone to flake or wear off.
Methods of DIY Pottery Painting
Potters rarely use traditional paints when they seek to add a colorful effect to their pottery. They use ceramic materials like slips, oxide stains, and underglazes. These materials fuse with the pottery on firing. We can broadly categorize DIY pottery painting into two, pre-and-post firing pottery painting.
Post-Firing Painting
In post-firing pottery painting, you paint the pottery after firing. The paint may flake off if not properly glazed. In post-firing painting, we fire the pottery in a kiln or an oven to increase the lifespan of the finish. Post-firing painting is quite complicated because the glaze resists new layers of paint. Several steps are involved when painting post-fired pottery. They include:
1. Removing the Glaze
The first step is firing the pottery to remove the old glaze. You can remove it using fine-grit sandpaper. Scrub the area to be painted or repainted lightly to remove the glaze using sandpaper. Scrubbing the pottery too hard may damage the pottery. Use a cloth free of lint to remove dirt, grease, or dust.
2. Priming
When painting anything, a primer layer is vital. It helps in binding the material and the paint. Apply the primer using a large brush to paint broad strokes. You must align the strokes in the same direction, and the layer should be thin.
3. Re-Glazing
The last step in post-firing painting is re-glazing. The pottery is re-glazed dried to protect the paint from flaking or wearing off easily. The drying time depends on the paint used or the type of glaze. If any firing is involved, you cannot use acrylic paint.
Pre-Firing Painting
In pre-firing pottery painting, you paint the pottery before firing it. The paint does not flake or wear off easily. You cannot use acrylic paints in this process because the firing can burn them out. The paint used in this process lasts longer than in post-firing DIY pottery painting. Below are some methods used in pre-firing pottery painting.
Underglazes
Underglazes are used to create patterns and designs that come through the glaze covering them. Sometimes you can get a water color effect when using underglaze that has enough color to minimize fading and is thin enough. Underglazes can create a more acrylic-like effect. You can achieve this by working with a liquid underglaze, incorporating a much heavier painting style, and putting more underglaze on the surface.
Oxide Stains
Oxide lines are mainly used to pain flowing lines and add areas of broad colors. There is an availability of commercially prepared stains, or you can opt to mix earth oxides with water. The handling of earthly mixed oxides needs a good handle on what glazes over it, or otherwise, they will change color depending on what they come in contact with. Oxide stains, however, are dangerous and should be handled with safe hands and precautions put in place.
Slips
A slip is a water-diluted composition of clay particles that can color pottery before you fire it. You can dilute the composition then add oxides if you require a colored slip or use a white slip without the oxides. Slips are, however, most effective on wet greenware. The three primary advantages of using slip are:
- It is easy to clean mistakes fully.
- Slip painting matches the entire cay better because it all dries as one part.
- We can use together slip with underglazes to define the image or strengthen the appearance.
Fingernail Polish or Acrylic Paints
Pottery artists occasionally use traditional paints to beautify pottery pieces. If a pottery piece does not need to be functional, this is a great way to go since you are no longer limited to ceramic materials for painting. On the lower side, however, these non-ceramic options may peel or flake off. The ideal pieces to use this option are pieces designed for display art.
Glazes
We mainly refer to this type of painting as glaze-on-glaze painting. DIY pottery painting on ceramics using glazers has been a trait of potters for many years. Painting with glazers is helpful since you can paint different areas with glazes of different colors. Its major disadvantage is glazing; when heated during firing, it might get molten and flowy. It causes the design to sag or disappear into another layer.
Ceramics Painting
In painting ceramics, it differs from pottery painting. Ceramics painting varies from one item to the next. For instance, how a cup is painted differs from how you should paint a kettle.
How to Paint Pottery at Home
If you want to add color to your house, you do not need special skills or equipment to design eye-catching pottery. You can use acrylic paint on your pieces, and with an air-dry clay or an oven bake, your dream is attainable in the following steps:
1. Washing
Wash your pottery to remove debris and dust on its surface. Let the pottery air dry before applying the paint to it. If you make the pottery using air-dry clay, instead of washing it, if necessary clean it using a dry paper towel.
2. Pre-Painting
Using a flat and broad brush, paint large spots on the pottery with a single color. Ensure that your brushes are washed and dry before you switch to a different color. Before adding another coating, Ensure the base layers are dry.
3. Painting the Design
After pre-painting, paint your patterns, designs, and details over the pottery base with a smaller brush. If you make the worn pattern, ensure the area painted is dry and then paint on top of it.
4. Drying
Now that you have painted the designs on the pottery let the paint completely dry. It may take some time if you have painted thick or multiple coats.
5. Glazing
After the painting on your pottery dries, cover them with a clear glaze. It prevents the paint from cracking or chipping off by sealing the pottery.
Common Pitfalls When Painting Pottery
Having precautions for pottery is crucial. It lets you know the dos and don’ts since they can affect your safety. Below are a few things to consider during your pottery session.
Don’t Let the Clay Dry Out
When you are done with your pottery session, it is essential to return it to its packaging. Unfortunately, when the clay is left to sit out, it dries, and the silicate dust stirs up. Therefore, it results in a mess, and it’s hard to clean afterward. We also advise that you clean the working area, including the pottery wheel, get rid of any trimmings left, and clear the area of open jars.
Don’t Inhale Clay Dust
Inhalation of clay and pottery paints is dangerous to your health. It can damage your lungs; as a result, this is because clay and most of the paints contain silica. When silica gets into the lungs, it scars the tissue and interferes with your ability to breathe. Hence it is prudent for you to wear a mask every time you are working with clay. You can choose to use a respirator for breathing when working with clay with silica. Wiping the surfaces when the clay is still wet will also help trap the tiny particles, and hence they will not be airborne.
Cleaning the Pottery
When cleaning artifacts, whether at home or in a studio, ensure that you handle them correctly. Avoid eating or drinking in the surroundings. You should also avoid interchanging your equipment and tools. After leaving your working are, be surer to scrub your hands thoroughly. It would be best if you made sure the storage of clay is appropriate to avoid mold growth. You should also avoid working with clay if you have allergies.
Conclusion
Are you a professional painter or a beginner? Regardless of the knowledge of painting, DIY pottery painting can be done by anyone. It is an art for capturing a moment and feelings. As we have seen above, there are various ideas that you can use for pottery painting. However, DIY pottery painting has its risks, and you must use the precautions above. Give your pottery a polished look through DIY pottery painting. Your family and customers will adore them.