With Spring here and Summer just around the corner many of us are planting flower gardens and adding flowers to our porches and patios. Decorating a plan terra cotta pot with a bit of artwork can add a pleasing affect. Clay pots are inexpensive and fun to paint. Preparing your pot properly before painting is the most important step and will ensure that your creative artwork will last. Here is how I prepare and paint the pots I use and have found by doing the following steps my pots have lasted many years and do not have paint peeling off.
1.Always start with a clean dry pot. To clean your pot soak them in hot soapy water with a couple of tablespoons of bleach for about 15 minutes. Remove and rinse thoroughly. Allow the pot to dry completely remembering clay is very porous. Do not try to clean and paint the pot on the same day.
2. I do not paint the inside my pots. I only paint down a few inches from the top edge on the inside
3. Paint the outside of the pot with acrylic paint using 2- 3 coats and allowing it to dry completely between coats.
4. Pots can be painted with simple designs or even decoupage on. I sometimes like to decoupage seed packets on to my pots using modge podge and following the instructions on the jar. You can also stamp on pots. Just let your imagination decide how you would like to decorate your pot for your décor.
5. After you are finished painting and applying your design let the pot dry completely and then apply a water based polyurethane and allow to dry for a week before planting in them.
By following these few simple steps your pots wiil last for years and not bubble or peel. Have fun painting- this can be a great project to do with your kids !Labels: clay pots, folk art painting, painting clay pots |
