Painting your ceramics is so much fun and will bring a pop of colour to your pottery! Our guide is here to teach you the best way to paint ceramics.
This guide applies to painting both glazed items such as shop-bought plant pots, mugs, plates etc, and also unglazed items such as homemade clay pottery.
Depending on the material you’re painting, there are different methods of approaching it. In general, it’s best to prime any surface you are working on. This means sanding any lumps and bumps, making sure it’s clear of dust and dirt, and adding a primer before you paint.
Jump straight to...
- The best ceramic paints 2023
- What paint is best for ceramics (unglazed)?
- What paint is best for glazed ceramics?
- Do I need to use primer on ceramics?
- Choosing the right paint for your ceramics
Once you’ve started painting your clay or ceramic, you may want to let it dry and then apply another layer to ensure it is bright enough.
The final step is paint and surface dependant. You’ll usually either leave the paint to air dry or bake it in the oven. Once the paint is cured you can add a protective sealant to ensure it stays vibrant.
Main image: Painting air dry clay
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The best ceramic paints 2024
1. Porcelain paint for ceramics by Ratel
Best for glazed ceramics
As mentioned above, porcelain paint is an excellent choice for glazed ceramics as it sticks to the surface better than acrylic. Once you’ve painted your design it can be fired in a conventional oven as it has a low firing point, this will ensure the paint sets.
Once fired, the paint will be waterproof and washable.
This set contains 12 vibrant colours which are water-based, lightfast and odourless. You’ll also find three paintbrushes in the set.
- Buy now from Amazon (£16.99 / $21.57)
2. Mont Marte porcelain paint (pack of 6 or 24)
Best for glazed ceramics
These ceramic paints are highly-rated and ideal for glazed surfaces. They’re suitable for decorative use on surfaces including ceramics, china and glass.
The pigment is bright, opaque and great for covering glossy surfaces. In the set, you’ll find six colours, which can be mixed to create various shades.
If you’re looking for a wider array of colours you can opt for the set of 24, which contains a great variety of lightfast colours. Like other porcelain paint, it can be baked in a conventional oven in order to cure it.
3. Shuttle Art acrylic paint
Best for unglazed ceramics
Acrylic paints are hugely versatile! This set of 50 vibrant colours is an excellent investment not only for painting ceramics but for a tonne of other crafts too.
Acrylic paints are the best choice for painting onto unglazed pottery, for example, air dry clay. You’ll need to prep your surface by sanding and applying a primer, then you can paint straight onto the surface.
Once finished, wait for your paint to dry and apply a sealant. It’s as easy as that!
This set of 50 paints includes a huge variety of colours including metallics, pastels and neons.
4. Decola glass and ceramic paint
Best for glazed ceramics
Decola is one of the highest-rated brands for ceramic paint. They create high-quality pigment-dense paints specifically designed for ceramics and glass.
They create a vibrant finish to your projects and once baked in the oven will have a long-lasting outcome.
The set is made up of six vivid colours that can be mixed to create more shades.
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5. Ceramic paint pens
Best for glazed or unglazed ceramics
You may not have considered paint pens when thinking about ceramic painting, but they are a great alternative to a brush.
Thanks to their 0.7mm fine tip you can draw with great precision, meaning you can create more intricate designs on your ceramics.
They work perfectly well on a number of materials, not just ceramics! You can also use these pens on glass, rocks, wood or anything else you can get your hands on. They’ll make an amazing addition to your craft kit.
If you want some guidance on using them we’ve found a helpful demonstration video using these exact paint pens by Anna Pora illustrations on YouTube.
6. Baker Ross pastel porcelain paint pots
Best for glazed ceramics
This beautiful pastel paint set from Baker Ross will make your ceramics pop! With eight glorious shades, you’ll be able to create a subtle design on your items easily.
These high-quality paints can be set in the oven making them waterproof and even dishwasher safe!
They would work perfectly for giving your mugs or bowls a splash of colour.
- Buy now from Baker Ross (£9.95)
7. Monte Marte acrylic paint set of 24 0r 48
Best for unglazed ceramics
This lovely set includes 24 vibrant colours which are fast-drying, meaning they can be layered without muddying your colours.
These are ideal for painting onto unglazed pottery, just ensure your surface is sanded and free from dirt and dust before you get going.
This set is available in 24 colours, but there’s also the option of 48 if you want to expand your palette!
8. Art Studio ceramic paints
Best for unglazed ceramics
If you’re looking for a taster set of ceramic paints to give pottery painting a try, this is the set for you. It’s an impressively cheap set which includes six vibrant colours.
This set is a great way to get a feel for painting ceramics and to test out whether you enjoy it. If you love it, then you can move on to a larger set of paints with more colour options.
- Buy now from The Range (£1.79)
What paint is best for ceramics (unglazed)?
There’s a number of different types of paint that can be used on ceramics. The main type is acrylic, which works best for unglazed pottery.
Acrylic paint works well because it’s bright, non-toxic and fast-drying, making it easy to use. Once you’ve painted your clay creations, you can finish them using a waterproof sealant.
What paint is best for glazed ceramics?
Painting glazed surfaces is more challenging than unglazed ones because it’s harder to ensure the paint sticks to the smooth surface.
The best way to do this is to sand down the piece. This will remove some of the old glaze, allowing you to add a new layer of primer and then paint with porcelain paint. This paint type tends to apply more evenly to glazed ceramics and can be baked in the oven to seal the colour.
Do I need to use primer on ceramics?
If your ceramics are particularly porous or bumpy, it’s worth applying a coat or two of primer. This will ensure your paint goes on smoothly.
Next, we’ll guide you through the best paints for ceramics. We’ll note what type of ceramic it works best with, so you can be sure you’re choosing the right paint for your project!
Choosing the right paint for your ceramics
As a general rule of thumb, acrylic paint works best for unglazed pottery including air dry clay.
Whereas porcelain paint works best on glazed pottery, like mugs and bowls you might have purchased from a shop.
Whichever type of pottery you are decorating, we know these paints will give an extra burst of colour to your creations!
Got your paints and your pottery?
Time to get inspired with these pottery painting ideas to make your items extra special!
