How to Paint Clay Pots for Planters
Plain terra-cotta pots are a classic choice for the gardener, but painted pots add a bit of punch to your flowerbed or terrace. With a little bit of time, paint and imagination, you can transform those tried-and-true containers into planters with real personality. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Clay pot
- Stiff scrub brush
- Newspaper
- Poster paints or acrylic craft paints
- Wide paintbrush (bristle or foam) for base color
- Container of clean water
- Smaller paintbrushes of desired size and type (bristle or foam) for detail work
- Cotton swabs, if desired
- Clear spray acrylic
Instructions
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1
Soak your clay pot in warm, soapy water to ensure that it is free of all grease and dirt. This will help the paint adhere to the pot. If there are any price tags or other stickers, let the pot soak for up to 60 minutes and scrub with a stiff brush until the tag or sticker and its adhesive have been thoroughly removed. Let your pot dry completely before starting to paint.
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2
Spread newspaper completely over the surface on which you will be painting. You may want to use several layers in case paint or water seeps through the newspaper.
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3
Paint your base color on the pot using a wide brush, thinning a bit with water if needed. Do not paint the bottom of the pot, as this can impede drainage. Allow to dry. Repeat this step until your base color is as deep as you would like it.
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4
Paint your design on the pot once the base color has dried completely, using a brush for larger designs or a cotton swab for smaller details. Be sure to allow each color to dry completely before starting an additional color on top of it.
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5
Apply a coat of spray acrylic once all the paint has dried. Allow this coat to dry completely, then spray a second coat of acrylic. This will protect your creation from scratches and other damage. An acrylic with a matte finish will make the colors of your pot stand out more than one with a gloss finish, which will produce a distracting glare.
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Tips & Warnings
Your pot will dry more quickly if placed in the sunlight or on top of a radiator.
