by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: August 07, 2009

Terra cotta pots are inexpensive, plentiful and come in a wide variety of sizes. With a little bit of paint creativity each pot can be a fun work or art. They can be used for a wide variety of things, not just to grow plants.

~ Prepare the terra cotta pot
It is important to inspect the pottery for imperfections. They can often have cracks and small chips that will not give the best finished product. Some times terra cotta pots have uneven bottoms and don't sit flat. This is a little tough to notice as they have them stacked, so make sure to take them apart and make certain they sit nicely on the saucer. It is best to paint them at the same time so there is an attractive and matching set.

Often times the pots get dirty with shipping and handling. Oily fingerprints reek havoc with the painting. It is a good idea to wash the pot and saucer with a mild dish soap. Terra cotta absorbs the moisture so it will take a couple of days for the pieces to dry completely. This process can not be rushed.

~ Seal the terra cotta
Apply a pre-sealer to the inside and outside of the pot. The saucer should be completely sealed as well. Allow the sealer to dry completely.

~ Select a Design
For those who may not be good at free hand art work transfer paper is a great option Patterns can be selected from pattern books or coloring pages on line and transferred to the terra cotta pot.

It is fun to select designs that match personalities and projects. For example, if the pot is a gift for a teacher that will hold crayons, it may be cute to paint crayons all the way around the pot in different colors.

Suppose the terra cotta pot is going to be planted with spearmint for a friend who enjoys tea. A couple of tea cups may be the perfect choice.

Stripes are easy and fun. Keep them straight by using painters tape to cover the areas for different stripes.


~ Paint the inside and rim of the pot with acrylic paint. Two thin coats work best. Allow them to dry completely between coats.

~ Paint the main body of the pot with the base color and then trace of draw the designs wanted. Paint the designs remember that thin coats and complete drying are essential. It is notnecessary to paint designs, they look great any color.

~ Next design the saucer. The design and color should be complementary to the terra cotta pot.

~ Seal the pot and saucer with two thin coats of varnish.






Source:
www.the-artistic-garden.com
www.diylife.com

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