Learn about painted pots using linseed oil and natural non-toxic pigment powder on your terra cotta pots. They age really well and create a nice patina.
I was browsing through an old book called At Home with Herbs by Jane Newdick, when I came across a project on painted pots with natural pigment powder. Her pots looked so beautiful so I stopped at the hardware store and picked up some linseed oil and an ordered a pigment kit from earthpigments.com.
I’ve read that linseed oil is often used to seal terra-cotta floor tiles. I was also interested in the fact that the book said the finished look would be a nice matte look which will wear away naturally leaving a nice patina. All I did was mix the linseed oil with some of the pigment powder. It was a little messy. I used disposable sponge brushes and plates, packing papers and paper towels.
It was really interesting how quickly the pot absorbed the mixture of oil and pigment powder.
According to the seller these pigments are non-toxic and environmentally safe and mined from quarries in France.
Natural Pigment Painted Pots
I’m excited to see how they wear with time and if the linseed oil helps them retain more moisture.
Now I have to figure out what else I can use these beautiful pigments for. Maybe I should take up painting?
Have you painted terra-cotta pots?
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Sandy, Leonardtown, MD
Thanks so much for sharing this project!!! I’m going to give it a try. =) How well have the pots held up to watering? Do the pots ever bleed?
Patti Estep
Hi Sandy,
The pots have held up well. They don’t bleed but have faded a bit over time. I guess it depend on how much sun is shining on them.
Zora
How have they weathered? Any pictures? These look gorgeous and I’d guess they look even more interesting after a few years.
Patti Estep
Hi Zora,
A couple of them have not left the house. I used them to create topiary and the haven’t changed. One that I did use outside has faded some but not much, and still looks good to me.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
lindà
How much of the oil and pigment do you use..
Patti
Hi Linda,
What I did was place some of the pigment on a plate and some oil next to it and mixed it until a got a nice consistency that wasn’t too thick or so thin that it would drip. Also, it seemed like each pigment was different. For example the blue was very strong and wanted to come off on the pot but the others were not like that. Maybe that mineral doesn’t work with this method.
Lisa
How neat are these…love it!
Patti
Thanks Lisa!