Hand-painted mugs can be a wonderful decoration for your kitchen, a fun hobby, or a great gift. All you need to do is buy a mug, wash it, rub the surface you are going to paint with alcohol, and start drawing!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Painting with acrylic paints
Step 1. Cover your workplace with newspapers
Make sure newspapers cover the entire workspace. To keep the newspapers from going around, they can be attached to the table with tape. If you are worried about spilling a lot of paint, spread 2-3 layers of newspaper.
Step 2. Apply the acrylic paints with which you are going to paint on the palette
Pour about one spoonful of paint of the selected colors onto the palette. The colors should not mix, so leave a distance of 2, 5–3 cm between them. If you need to mix colors, pour a few paints into a separate cell and mix them with a clean brush.
- Instead of a palette, you can use a paper plate.
- Don't pour too much paint onto the palette!
Step 3. Draw the outlines of your drawing on the mug with a pencil
The graphite lead of the pencil glides well on the surface and is easy to wipe off. Do not paint over the edge of the mug.
If you need to draw a straight line, use masking tape
Step 4. Apply the first coat of paint to the mug and leave to dry
Soak your brush in water and blot with a paper towel. Then dip the brush into the desired color of acrylic paint. Now paint the pattern of your choice on the mug. Try not to paint on the edge of the mug.
To paint over a large surface, such as a background, use a wide foam brush. For drawing small details, it is better to take a thin brush with a sharp tip
Step 5. Apply paint in layers until the drawing is finished
After applying the first coat of paint, wait until it is more or less dry before applying the next one. To make the finished mug shine, cover it with colorless transparent acrylic paint at the end. To do this, take a clean foam brush and paint clear acrylic paint all over the outside of the mug.
Step 6. Dry the mug within 24 hours
Place the mug in a safe place with a piece of newspaper underneath it. Try not to touch the mug while it dries, otherwise you may smear the design and it will take longer to dry.
Step 7. You can correct the pencil drawing with an eraser, and the paint drawing with alcohol
If your paint is smeared or leaked, you can fix it with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and gently wipe off any unnecessary paint. Do this slowly and carefully so as not to damage the rest of the drawing.
Step 8. The mug should be fired at 180 ° C for 35 minutes
Place the dried mug upright on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 180 ° C and place a baking sheet with a mug in it. After 35 minutes, remove the mug from the oven and let it cool completely.
- Check the label on the paint. If the paint manufacturer has given recommendations for firing times and temperatures, follow these instructions.
- Try not to burn yourself!
Step 9. Wash the mug under the tap
Do not put a painted mug in the dishwasher, the pattern may wash off. Just wash your mug with dish soap and warm water. The mug is then ready for use.
Method 2 of 3: Painting with decorative markers
Step 1. Draw the outlines of the drawing with a pencil on the mug
While this is not necessary when writing with decorative markers, a pencil sketch can help you more accurately apply the design to the mug. If you accidentally make a mistake, you can always erase the pencil outline. Remember, it is best not to apply the design to the rim of the mug.
You can draw a straight line on the mug with masking tape
Step 2. Apply the first coat of paint to the mug
Use oil markers to paint your mugs. You can trace your pencil sketch or modify it in the process. Do not use ordinary markers or felt-tip pens for painting the mug, otherwise the drawing will quickly be erased.
Step 3. Apply the next layers of paint
Wait a few minutes for the first coat of paint to dry, and then apply the following parts of your design to the mug. Continue adding layers of paint until you achieve the desired color, texture, and density. Try not to mix colors.
Step 4. Use an eraser and a cotton swab moistened with alcohol to erase pencil marks and mistakes in the drawing
Use the eraser to erase the marks of the pencil sketch. If you made a mistake in drawing with a marker, wait until the paint dries, and then remove unnecessary lines with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Squeeze out excess alcohol from the stick before use - it should not drip from its tip.
Remove unnecessary parts of the design with gentle blotting movements. Work slowly and carefully so as not to accidentally erase excess
Step 5. Dry the mug for at least 24 hours
Place newspaper under the mug and let it dry completely. Do not touch the mug while it dries to avoid smearing the design and lengthening the drying time.
Step 6. Fire the mug for 25 minutes at 190 ° C
Place the mug upright on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 190 ° C and place a baking sheet with a mug in it. After 25 minutes, turn off the oven and leave the mug in it for another 2 hours. The mug can then be removed from the oven and cooled at room temperature.
Remove the mug from the oven with an oven mitt or mitten
Step 7. Wash the mug with water by hand
Do not wash the painted mug in the dishwasher, otherwise the pattern may wash off. After washing, the mug is completely ready for use.
Method 3 of 3: Abstract drawing with nail polish
Step 1. Pour warm water into a plastic container
About 7–8 cm should remain to the edge of the container; at the same time, it must be deep enough so that the mug can be immersed in the water. Instead of a plastic container, you can use a small bowl, bowl, or sink.
Nail polish can leave residue on the walls, so use a container you don't mind
Step 2. Put some nail polish into the water
You can take several varnishes of different colors. If the varnish has not spread over the entire surface of the water, add a few more drops. Work quickly to prevent the varnish from drying out on the surface of the water.
If you can't find the right colors in any way, use the color wheel. The color wheel will show which colors work well with each other
Step 3. Slowly swirl the water and paint with a toothpick
Take a toothpick and move it across the water in a circular or zigzag motion. Do this slowly so that the varnish does not clump. You can skip this step, but it helps to create a sloppy abstract drawing on the circle.
Step 4. Dip the mug in water with varnish for 3-4 seconds
Keeping the mug upright, dip it into the water. Take out the mug after 3-4 seconds. Try to keep the mug upright at all times to keep the varnish on it.
Step 5. The mug should dry for about 1 hour
Place the mug on a piece of newspaper and let it dry. To prevent the varnish from slipping, dry the mug upside down. Do not touch the mug while it dries!
Step 6. Wash the mug under the tap with warm or cold water
Do not wash your painted mug in the dishwasher, as this can damage your drawing. After washing, the mug can be presented as a gift, used to decorate the interior, or just drink from it!
Advice
- It is better to store jars of acrylic paints upside down so that air bubbles do not form in the paint.
- If you do not know what to draw, you can find a suitable drawing on the Internet.
Warnings
- Observe the precautions for firing! Be sure to use oven mitts or gloves when working with the oven.
- Do not apply paint to the edges of the mug.