Mastering Pottery Painting For Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide with Video Demonstrations

Pottery painting is a fun activity that combines creativity with relaxation. Whether you want to try something new or find a family friendly activity in Kent, pottery painting offers a rewarding experience. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the pottery painting process, share some inspiring ideas, and include two video demonstrations to help you get started.

Choosing Your Pottery Piece

The first step is selecting the right pottery item. You can pick from plates, mugs, bowls, or decorative pieces. When choosing, consider:

• The size and shape that fits your painting style

• The upcoming events or celebrations you could tailor your piece to

• Whether you want a functional item or purely decorative

  
  

If you’re looking for things to do in Ashford, our studio offers a wide range of over 150 unique pottery pieces ready for painting.

Preparing Your Workspace and Materials

Set up a clean, well-lit area with all your materials within reach. You’ll need:

• A pencil to lightly sketch your design on first for guidelines and sizing

• Pottery paints - We have a choice of 31 unique high quality underglaze colours

• Brushes of various sizes

• Water container for rinsing brushes

• Paper towels or cloth for drying

• A palette or plate for mixing colours

  
  

The great news is, I provide all of the above setup to make the process enjoyable and stress-free!

Basic Pottery Painting Techniques

Start with simple techniques to build confidence:

• Base Coating: Apply a solid colour across all areas you wish to paint, we recommended 3 coats for a vibrant finish once glazed .

• Detailing: Use fine brushes or fun writers (Provided) for patterns like dots, stripes, or floral designs.

• Blending: Mix colours on the pottery for gradient effects.

• Stamping: Use sponges (Provided) to create textured patterns.

  
  

For pottery painting inspiration, try combining these techniques or exploring nature-inspired themes like leaves and flowers.

Video Demonstration 1: Basic Pottery Painting Techniques

Here’s a video showing how to apply base coats and add simple details to a plate.

Watching this will help you understand brush control and colour layering.

Drying and Firing Your Pottery

After painting, leave your piece with me to dry completely. We leave paints to dry for 24 hours to allow all moisture to leave the pottery item to prevent cracking or crazing once fired.

Sealing and Finishing Pottery

Following the paint drying over 24 hours, I then dip your item in a glaze formula, covering all of the piece for a seamless, usable, food safe gloss finish.

It is then left to dry for a further 24 hours to allow the moisture to leave the pottery from the glaze. I then smooth the dried glaze all over your piece, removing any run lines or heavy areas.

Once this is complete, its time to kiln fire! Your item is stilted in the kiln along with all other items ready for firing. The kiln firing takes 16 hours from start to finish to allowing it to steadily achieve the right temperature before a long cooling down process to not stress the pottery item.

Finally, the piece is removed from the kiln and you will get the exciting call or message to say your masterpiece is ready to collect!

Finding Pottery Painting Ideas and Inspiration

If you want fresh ideas, look at our gallery or alternatively, new ideas are always popping up on Pinterest and TikTok. This is a great way to discover new styles and gain inspirations from others who enjoy this family friendly activity.

Why Pottery Painting Is a Great Choice for You

Pottery painting is more than just a craft. It’s a chance to relax, express yourself, and create something unique. It fits perfectly into a list of things to do in Ashford or anywhere in Kent when you want a fun activity that welcomes all ages.

Try it once, and you might find yourself coming back for more pottery painting sessions and exploring new ideas.