Perhaps you are tired of ordinary clay pots if you have a lot of plants indoors or outdoors. Painting them can take a few days because of the drying time, but it's an easy project that pays off because of the touch it will add to the decor of the house. You need to soak and scrub the pots before painting. It is also important to waterproof them and apply a primer base coat. You can just use colors or make complex designs, and seal the paint to make it weather resistant.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Cleaning the Vase
Step 1. Sand it to remove the roughest parts
If you can, do this process outside the house to reduce the mess. To do it in an enclosed space, even if it is a garage, it's best to line the floor with newspaper so that dust doesn't spread. It's also good to wear old clothes.
- You don't need to sand for a long time, just long enough to get rid of the lumps and rough spots. If you don't see anything like that, you don't even need to sand it.
- Even if the vase has defects, you can leave them to give the result a texture.
Step 2. Let the vase soak for an hour
This will make it easier to remove the stickers and labels if it is new. It's also good to do the same with older pots to loosen dirt. If the vase doesn't have stickers and looks clean, you can skip the wash.
- Although it is necessary to let the vase dry for many parts of the process while it is soaking, you can take the time to separate the material and tidy up the work area.
- If you don't want to leave it for an hour, check it every ten minutes. If the vase looks clean enough, continue with the process.
Step 3. Scrub with a brush
Soaking the vase can loosen the dirt, but used vases will need brushing to be really clean. The ink won't evenly or stick to the surface if there's dirt on it.
- You may need to use a soft brush on the pots so as not to scratch them too much. But if there are stubborn stains, you can use a wire brush to apply more force.
- Don't worry if you scratch the vase while brushing it, as the paint will cover and even out.
Step 4. Allow the vase to dry completely
If you paint it still wet, the paint won't stick. Therefore, leave it aside to dry. If the day is sunny, place the vase outside so that it dries faster. Drying time will depend on its size.
This process can take a few hours, so plan not to waste your time while you wait
Part 2 of 3: Sealing the vessel and applying the primer
Step 1. Line with newspapers
Place paper, plastic sheeting, or old cloth on the table or countertop to protect the surface. Cover the place where you are going to put the vase and any areas that might be stained.
If you plan to paint on the outside, it can also be a good idea to cover the surfaces so the paint doesn't smudge anything
Step 2. Place the vase upside down on a pot
That way you won't smudge the ink while holding the object. To balance it, put your hand on the bottom of it, which will now be facing up, as this part will not be painted. Use something big enough to support the vase.
- You can use a glass pot, can, or other cylindrical container. The size of pot needed depends on the size of the pot. It may not be possible to use this technique with large pots.
- This step isn't mandatory, but it's easier to do than holding the vase in your hand while painting.
Step 3. Use a waterproofing sealant
Using a spray product made for concrete or brick is simpler. As clay pots are permeable, this spray creates a barrier between the plant and the paint. It is usually sold in the paint part.
- It is best to apply it outside, or at least in a well-ventilated garage. It is not safe to use this type of product indoors.
- Drying can take up to 24 hours. Read the packaging to be sure.
- Seal the inside and outside of the vessel. Otherwise, when you water the plant, the water will run through the clay and make the paint loosen and peel.
- You don't need to seal the pots if you don't plan to put plants in them.
Step 4. Apply a general purpose primer
You can use the color version if you like, especially if you want it to work together with the ink. If not, you can use the white primer yourself. It will help make the paint stick better in the vase and cover the red color of the clay.
- Apply primer all over the outside, but also 2, 5 cm inside the pot.
- Although some sources recommend painting the bottom, it's best not to apply anything to it as it doesn't affect the drainage.
Part 3 of 3: Painting and Sealing the Vase
Step 1. Use foam brushes to paint
Brushes with bristles tend to leave streaks, while foam brushes make the coverage more even. It might be good to use a few brushes of different sizes, especially if you want to paint designs on the vase.
It's okay if you already have brushes with bristles and want to use them. It's just that foam brushes work better. You can use the bristle brushes for fine details later
Step 2. Cover some parts with tape
You can paint the vase in one color, but for more variety or fun drawings, a good option is to use paint tape. Glue the tape and paint the first layer on top of it. After the paint dries, remove the tape and paint the parts that were under it before.
- You can reapply the tape over the already painted parts to keep the lines between the colors very sharp.
- Another option is to paint the entire vase with the first color, stick tape on the desired designs and paint again over everything so that the parts under the tape keep the original color.
Step 3. Paint the outside and about 2.5 to 5 cm inside
You can use any paint you like for the main layers. The cheapest is to use a leftover paint you already have at home. Indoor and outdoor paints will do, as well as acrylic craft paint. It is even possible to use spray paint.
- Cover the entire outside of the vase except the bottom. It's not that it's bad to paint this part, but painting can affect the vase's water flow.
- Also paint a piece of the inside so that the clay doesn't show up, as the soil doesn't reach the edge of the vase.
Step 4. Apply extra layers of paint as needed
Depending on the paint, color, and thickness of the first coat, you may need to go through more than one coat to get even coverage. Clay vases also usually absorb some of the paint. Therefore, it is likely that one layer is not enough.
- Allow each layer to dry before painting others. If the paint is not dry, the new layers will remove the previous ones.
- To give the vase a shaded look, you can use a different color for the second layer. In that case, dilute her ink with water to make it more transparent.
Step 5. Finish painting with drawings
Another option is to use your imagination to paint lines, shapes or images on the vase. If it belongs to a plant with large leaves that fall out of it, it is not necessary to go into so many details.
Now, you can make the vase as simple or detailed as you like. For example, you can paint a garden or write the name of the plant in pretty letters
Step 6. Apply an acrylic sealant to the vase
It will make the paint last longer without peeling or cracking, and is especially recommended for outdoor pots. Wait until all the paint has dried before applying the final coat of sealant.
- This step is not mandatory, but it is likely that your paint will not last as long without the sealant.
- There are several options for sealant, but pay attention if the vase will be outside the house, as not all products are suitable for any type of climate.
- Let the pot dry for a few more days before planting anything in it.
