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Activities / Blue Pottery / Blue Pottery Tile Painting

Blue Pottery Tile Painting

Blue-Pottery-Inspired Tile: Cobalt Motifs on a White Ceramic Tile

Level
Beginner
Duration
1 - 2 hours (plus drying)
Budget
₹250 – ₹750
Age
10+
State
Rajasthan

Materials

  • Plain white glazed ceramic tile, 10 by 10 cm
  • Acrylic paint set with white, cobalt blue and turquoise
  • Fine round brush, sizes 0 and 1
  • Water-based gloss sealer or varnish
  • Rubbing alcohol and a cloth
  • Soft pencil, paper, ballpoint pen and masking tape
  • Felt pads for the back
  • Flat brush, paper towels and a cup of water

Steps

  1. Wash the tile, dry it and wipe it with rubbing alcohol
    This is an inspired-by project: Jaipur blue pottery is glazed and fired in a kiln, while this tile uses acrylic paint to copy the cobalt blue on white look. Wash a plain white 10 by 10 cm (4 by 4 in) ceramic tile with soap and water, dry it with a cloth, and wipe the top with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol. Do not touch the top afterwards. Oil from fingers makes paint peel off the shiny surface.
  2. Draw your design on paper at the same size as the tile
    Cut a sheet of paper to 10 by 10 cm. Draw a four-petal flower in the centre about 4 cm across, a ring of 8 small leaves around it, and a border of small dots or triangles along the edges, leaving 5 mm free at the edge. Blue pottery designs use simple repeated flowers, leaves and birds. Draw it in pencil and erase until you are happy, because the paper is where mistakes are cheap.
    Tip: Fold the paper in half twice to find the centre, then draw the flower on the crossing point.
  3. Transfer the drawing onto the tile with a pencil-rubbed back
    Turn the paper over and rub the whole back with a soft pencil until it is shiny grey. Lay it graphite side down on the tile, tape two corners with masking tape, and trace over every line with a ballpoint pen, pressing lightly. Lift a corner to check that a grey line has transferred. If a line is missing, lower the paper and trace it again. Press lightly, because hard pressing can scratch the glaze.
  4. Paint two thin coats of white if the tile is not bright white
    Blue pottery has a clean white background. If your tile is glossy and bright white, skip this step. If it is cream, unglazed or has a grey tint, brush two thin coats of white acrylic over the top with a flat brush, letting each coat dry for 30 minutes. Do not paint over the pencil lines more than needed, because they will still show faintly through thin paint.
  5. Paint the outlines in cobalt blue with a size 0 brush
    Load a size 0 round brush with blue acrylic, wipe the extra on a paper towel and trace the outlines of the flower, leaves and border in one smooth movement for each shape. Keep the lines thin, about 1 mm. Start from the centre flower and move outwards, so your hand does not smudge wet paint. Common mistake: too much paint on the brush, which makes the outline thick and blobby.
    Tip: Rest your wrist on the table edge to keep the line steady.
  6. Fill the shapes and add turquoise as a second tone
    Fill the petals with cobalt blue and some of the leaves with turquoise, using the same brush or a size 2 brush for the larger areas. Add fine detail lines inside the petals with a darker blue, made by adding a tiny drop of black to the blue, and a row of dots along the border. Two blues in a design look like a hand-painted tile. Let the tile dry for 2 hours.
  7. Fix mistakes with white paint and finish the border
    If a line went wrong, wait until the paint is dry, then cover it with white acrylic and a small brush and repaint it. Check the whole tile for gaps in the outlines and fill them. Finally, check that the border runs evenly around all four sides. Taking a step back after 10 minutes and looking again will show what needs fixing.
  8. Seal the tile with two thin coats of gloss sealer and add felt pads
    Brush on a thin coat of water-based gloss sealer over the painted surface in one direction and let it dry for 1 hour. Add a second coat and let it cure for 24 hours. Stick four small felt pads on the back so the tile does not scratch furniture. Use it as a decoration or under a small plant pot. Do not use it for hot pans or for food.

Sustainability

Medium - reuses a plain tile; acrylic is plastic-based. Inspired-by exercise: real blue pottery glaze is fired in a kiln; your paint stays on the surface

Safety

Not for food or hot pans; tile edges can chip; ventilate when varnishing