31 pottery painting ideas
Get inspired with our easy pottery painting ideas! We've got everything from pottery painting supplies to easy painting ideas and designs from around the web.
We're obsessed with pottery here at Gathered (no thanks to our favourite craft TV show, The Great Pottery Throwdown) but we know most of us don't have room for a pottery wheel and kiln at home! That's why we love paint at home pottery pieces – you only need a few simple materials but can have hours of fun. If you want to start painting your own pottery then we've got the article for you. We've created a mini-guide to pottery painting including all the materials you'll need as well as 30+ pottery painting ideas to inspire you.
Our pottery painting ideas include everything from magical designs and cheeky illustrations to beautiful patterns so no matter your aesthetic you'll find a style that suits you. Pottery painting is also a great craft for kids, it's the perfect activity for keeping them entertained in the schools holidays. They'll especially love painting their own unicorn mug!
If these pottery painting ideas give you the clay bug then head over to our beginner's guide to pottery and round-up of the best pottery kits to upgrade your skills. First up is pottery painting supplies. Keep reading to find your four pottery painting essentials and 30+ pottery painting ideas.
Pottery painting supplies
Porcelain mugs
Firstly you need something to try out all our pottery painting ideas on! You can paint all sorts of items (you could upcycle old items too) including mugs, vases, bowls, plates etc and Amazon sell a huge range of ready-to-paint pieces. These little porcelain unicorn mugs are sold individually can be decorated by kids and adults alike. Use acrylic, paint pens, or ceramic paints to give your unicorn a makeover then finish with a layer of varnish. There's plenty of designs available so if unicorns aren't your thing don't worry. There's everything from garden gnomes to sheep plant pots so have a browse and pick your favourite.
Paints
Next up you need paints! Most paints work for pottery painting so if you already have some acrylic paints in your craft stash feel free to use those. However, if you're in the market for some new paints then Amazon has some great kits available. These 12 paints are specifically designed for ceramics and come with three handy brushes. The great thing about ceramic paints is you leave them to dry then bake them in the oven to set. It's a simple process and you can use them on any ceramics you like. If you'd rather pick up acryclic paints then this kit from Crafts 4 all includes 12 different colours.
Paint Pens
Alternatively, paint pens are great for pottery painting and much less messy! Paint pens are ideal for kids but they're also good for creating more detailed, intricate designs. Paint pens will work on most pottery pieces, they'll just need to be sealed with varnish when complete. This paint pen pack is from RISTRO and can be used on a variety of surfaces like metal, pottery, terra-cotta, polymer clay, and more. Paint pens are also great for rock painting making them versatile and a great all-rounder in your craft kit.
Varnish
Finally, if you want your pottery pieces to have a nice smooth surface then varnish is a must. You can buy a range of different varnishes online and in hardware stores, you just need to decide whether you want your pieces to have a shiny or matte finish. This high gloss varnish from Liquitex will give your designs a professional finish and ensure the colours aren't damaged when in use/being washed.
Easy pottery painting ideas
Geometric pots
Decorate vases, mugs or plant pots with this pretty pastel geometric design by Hobbycraft. They show you how to make these plant pots as well as decorate them!
Doughnut pottery painting
Angie Buena has loads of incredible pottery painting ideas on her Pinterest. We love this funky doughnut shape and think it would be super easy to recreate.
Dotted initials
The Love Nerds have created fun initial mugs using their dotting technique. Make a bunch of ceramic mugs for your friends and family using their free tutorial.
The Lovely Drawer's pottery painting ideas
The Lovely Drawer has three gorgeous pottery painting ideas on its blog. Recreate your favourite or all three designs on mugs, bowls, plates and more.
Patterned pots
Decorate your plant pots with plenty of patterns and colours for a statement piece!
Japanese inspired pottery painting
How gorgeous are these pottery painting ideas from Hobbycraft? They show you how to recreate these two Japanese-inspired designs on their blog.
Floral pottery painting ideas
Flowers make everything better even pottery. Add little flowers for a simple design or big flowers for a fun, 70's vibe. Erika Christine creates gorgeous floral pottery pieces so check her website if you'd rather buy your pottery.
Dash and dot designs
Decorate your pottery mugs with colourful dashes and dots like ILoveToCreate has. They have a few different dot and dash pottery painting ideas on their blog.
Happy pottery painting ideas
This cheerful design is by 7thHouseCeramics and it's bound to put a smile on your face. Cover your pottery pieces in smiley designs and enjoy the painting experience. Test out this design on our DIY coasters.
Body pottery painting ideas
You've probably seen the boob mug trend everywhere but it's great for a cool, quick pottery painting idea. Paint your favourite body parts on your crockery for a cheeky design!
Cat pottery painting ideas
Immortalise your feline friends in clay with these cute cat designs. You could make yours look like your own beloved pet!
Leopard print pottery painting ideas
Decorate your pottery pieces with your favourite animal prints like Casa Clara has. You could paint zebra stripes, cow print or even a giraffe pattern.
Acrylic paint drip
This pottery painting idea is perfect for creatives, crafters and artists. Copy The Creative Folk's paint drip design for a fun, arty look. Use this technique to make our clay vase DIY.
Brushstroke designs
Brushstrokes designs are simple yet so effective. Hobbycraft shows you how to create these sweet ceramic hearts on their blog but you could use their brushstroke technique on anything. We think ceramic mugs would look especially wonderful covered in brushstrokes.
Eucalyptus pattern
Lauren Ullrich Art is the queen of pottery painting ideas and we love this eucalyptus design. You can shop Lauren's designs in her shop.
Speckled pottery mug
Tastemade has created a handy video tutorial showing you how to make these DIY speckled mugs. You can also use this speckled technique to make a ring holder out of clay.
Forest pottery painting
Paint a starry sky and peaceful forest onto your pottery with Ryanne Levine's tutorial.
Abstract pottery painting ideas
Go wild with colour and design and make an abstract print on your mugs. This incredible mug is by Lily Lund Ceramics.
Folk art pottery painting ideas
Go all cottagecore with your pottery painting and paint toadstools, fairies, and countryside scenes on your pieces. This adorable mug is by Natural Life.
Heart pottery painting ideas
Give your pottery some love with this lovely heart design. It's a simple design but we love how the inside matches with the outside hearts!
Memphis mug painting
Enter my Attic shows you how to make these funky Memphis-inspired mugs over on their blog. Make matching bowls and plates for a full, handmade crockery set. This pattern would look fabulous on our clay salt spoons.
Gingham pottery painting
2 Cool Y2K has created this unique gingham design and we just love it. Their site is full of modern pottery painting ideas but be warned, you'll want to buy all their pieces!
Cloud pottery painting ideas
Paint your pottery with suns, clouds, and weather motifs for a quick but modern design. Round About Ceramics is the creators of this iconic cloud mug that you may have seen all over social media.
Fruity pottery painting ideas
Paint your five a day and give your pieces a fruity makeover with these pottery painting ideas. We love them as a set but you could recreate your favourite fruit for a one-off design.
Pottery painting ideas for your handles!
Don't forget about your handles! Decorate your mug handles and plate edges with this simple design from Southern Crush at Home.
Constellation pottery painting ideas
Celebrate your birth year by painting your star sign and constellation. These delicate trinket dishes are by Tasha Mckelvey and would make wonderful presents. If you enjoy this design then check out our other constellation crafts here on Gathered.
Fox pottery painting ideas
How cute is Marta Sorte Ceramic's pottery? We love these foxy faces and think they'd make great crockery for kids.
Strawberry pottery painting ideas
Cinda Designs summery designs are just adorable. Mini strawberries will make any pottery piece look lovely. Head over to our clay trinket dish DIY for another funky pottery painting idea!
Christmas pottery painting ideas
Get festive with your pottery painting and make some fancy new plates for Christmas dinner. This retro lightbulb design will give your veggies some extra sparkle!
Feather pottery painting ideas
Cover your pottery pieces in bright and bold feathers for a statement design. They'll make great centrepieces and be the talk of the town. This gorgeous bowl is by Jill Rosenwald.
Magical pottery painting ideas
Use M Rainey's plant pot as inspiration and paint a magical scene onto your pieces.
We hope our pottery painting ideas have inspired you to start playing with clay! We have lots of fun clay projects here on Gathered for you to get your hands stuck into. Why not make our air dry clay Christmas decorations or our Christmas star garland?
Looking for a new creative hobby? Check out our amazing free macrame patterns for more inspiration.
Authors
Phoebe has worked for Gathered, and our sister magazine Mollie Makes, for 3 years. She manages our Arts & Crafts section and specialises in social media and content strategy. She has a background in all things marketing, a flair for Pinterest and a knack for finding the next big craft trend. Previously she worked as Digital Campaign Executive for Fat Media. You may recognise her name from Mollie Makes Social Media magazine, where she shared her expertise and top tips on becoming social media savvy.
