10 Pottery Painting Ideas You Need to Try

Ask a potter which part of the process they hate the most, and I’d wager that 7/10 absolutely despise glazing. They like the rhythm of throwing and concentrating on form. To them, glazing a pot is a necessary evil they need to do to consider a piece finished. 

After throwing, waiting to trim, putting your pot in bisque, painstakingly glazing the piece, and firing again, it’s easy to equate the end-to-end pottery process to watching paint dry. But, I’m trying to embrace the patience that pottery requires—to play the long game, and create pieces that are uniquely mine. 

Considering different underglaze applications has opened my eyes to just how fun this process can be. So, if you’re wanting to dip your toe (or brush, rather) into surface decoration, here are 10 pottery painting ideas you can borrow. 

Checks 

If you don’t consider painting a strong suit, geometric patterns should be your go-to. Get your hands on some tape, draw out lines or checks, and then fill your glaze in the negative space. The result? Something more eye-catching than a solid color glaze application, but easy enough to do time and time again. 

Squiggles 

Let the brush do the talking. Grab a single color of underglaze, and paint organic, curved lines on your piece. It adds visual interest in a matter of seconds! 

Splatters 

Similar to the squiggle, splatters require minimal effort, but have maximum visual payoff. Take this black on white splatter for instance—it takes a classic color palette, but makes it fun and funky with the carefree, Jackson Pollock-esque application of the underglaze. 

Flowers 

Florals? On ceramics? Groundbreaking, I know. Call me basic, but I’m a sucker for a flower print. Plus, I enjoy how large floral prints don’t really need to be planned out—whether you’re doing large brush strokes or outlined flowers, you can go to town filling in all the whitespace of your piece. 

Clouds

I like to call this the “clouds in my coffee” cup ala Carly Simon. The whisp-y white clouds against the dark teal background feels whimsical and contemplative. And, I think this piece goes to show that even small, delicate patterns go a long way! 

Pencil Drawing 

If you feel more confident with a pencil rather than a brush, get your hands on an underglaze pencil. Etch any design on your bisqueware, top with a clear glaze, and the end result is a delightful doodle with all your charming pencil etchings shown. 

Food Doodles

Food doodles are really having a moment—from tomatoes to pasta shapes, decorate your kitchenware with all the snacks and nibbles you enjoy. It’ll be a trendy piece for tasty treats!

Fruit 

Rather than picking a grocery cart’s worth of foods to doodle, stick to one motif, like fruit! It’s fun, colorful, and worthy of a Harry Style’s song (Watermelon Sugar, anyone?). 

Colorful Handles 

Handles don’t have to be an afterthought—they can be artful too. I decorated these mugs with colored patterns, and then matched the handle underglaze color to tie it all together. I love the solid pop of color and the funky vibes these mugs bring to the function! 

Carved Design 

I recently tried out the technique of etching a design into greenware, and then filling it with underglaze. The results? Fine line work that would be challenging to get with even the thinnest of brushes. Beyond the ease of application, we love how this is looking so far—we plan on making this tulip cake stand the centerpiece of all our events! 

Tools & Techniques for Your Pottery Painting Ideas

New to the world of underglaze, but have pottery painting ideas you can’t wait to try out? Check out our guide, What is underglaze? Your guide to painting pottery (2025). We share our favorite brands, tools, and techniques to make your vision a reality. 

Wrapping Up Pottery Painting Ideas

From simple brushstrokes to more complex designs, the underglaze world is truly your oyster. Your pottery painting ideas are bound to make your piece stand out—whether you build on one of these ideas or have a few of your own, it’s a surefire way to make your mark. So, we encourage you to think beyond your typical dip glazes—grab your underglaze, embrace the process, and get to work!