How to Use High Heat Paint With Ceramic

Kilns seal the high heat paint to the pottery.

Painting ceramics before they have been fired with glaze is a fun activity for children and kids alike. High heat ceramic paint, also called an under glaze, is made to withstand the high temperatures of the kiln while still producing a vibrant color. When purchasing glazes it is important to remember that the color of the paint is usually several shades lighter than the final post-fired color. Most well labeled paints will show you what the color looks like after it is fired. When you are finished painting the ceramic will be ready to be coated with clear over glaze and fired.

Things You'll Need

• Damp cloth
• Water
• Pencil
• Masking tape
• High heat paint
• Paintbrush
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Gently wipe down the pottery with a clean cloth. This will remove any loose ceramic pieces or dust particles. If you skip this step, the dust will be incorporated into the pottery and will pull away when it is fired. This will leave white spots on the final product.

2. Trace your design with a pencil. The pencil lines will burn off in the kiln and will not be visible. If you are drawing straight lines use masking tape as a stencil.

3. Apply the high heat paint with a paintbrush or sponge and set it aside to dry completely. When the paint is dry you will notice that it will be lighter in color than when you applied it.

4. Apply a second coat of paint over the first if you want the paint to look solid. If you apply only one coat you will notice brush strokes and the color underneath. Set the pottery aside to dry.

5. Apply a third coat if you want to ensure that the colors are absolutely solid and that no brush strokes are visible. Set it aside to dry. If you used masking tape pull it off to prepare the ceramic to be fired.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process.

• Always place dark colors over light colors as the dark colors often bleed and will be seen through the light colors after the ceramic is fired.

• Use the end of a pencil or paintbrush to make polka dots on the pottery.

• If you want the pottery color to show through do not color it.

References

• Home Made Simple: Paint Your Own Pottery at Home
• Dynamic Patterns: Paint Your Own Pottery At Home