How to Paint Acrylic on Ceramic Figurines

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By charlottebabb

Step-by-step example of figurine painting

When I start to paint a figurine for myself, I generally don't have a clear idea of the end product, but I let it evolve. I really liked this figure for her sassy attitude and knowing look, and I wanted to use my favorite colors: purple, green and orange.There's not a wrong way to paint with acrylics.  

My usual method is to block in colors, often metallic ones for myself since I like sparkly things, and then overlay with glaze, dry brush or antiquing...a thin wash that is wiped off the high spots to accent the grooves and bring out the highlights.

Most of this is painted straight from the bottle, with the layers creating the mix. I did use some medium in the black glaze to make it transparent without being runny, but the rest was thinned with water.

I use a nylon #2 round for most painting, and a #0 script liner for face details.Generally speaking, it's best to use the largest brush you can manage for more painting time and less loading of brush.

I hope this will give you some ideas for how to paint acrylic on ceramics. 

Witch bisque figure painted in acrylic

bisque ceramic witch with skull and cat in an Adirondack chair. Her face and hands are sealed with clear varnish. Next time, I'll use a bit of color in it and not paint her skin.
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bisque ceramic witch with skull and cat in an Adirondack chair. Her face and hands are sealed with clear varnish. Next time, I'll use a bit of color in it and not paint her skin.
I painted the chair first with a flat coat for later antiquing and dry brush. I painted the skull with pearl white, hoping to get a crystal effect--hard to do with ceramic.
I painted the chair first with a flat coat for later antiquing and dry brush. I painted the skull with pearl white, hoping to get a crystal effect--hard to do with ceramic.
The next step was to block in some loud blue, green and orange for the dress, scarf, and shoes that would be dry-brushed later.
The next step was to block in some loud blue, green and orange for the dress, scarf, and shoes that would be dry-brushed later.
Then I brushed purple over the blue, which gives a shimmering effect, more than with one metallic color alone. I decided to go green on her face and hands, the typical hag look.
Then I brushed purple over the blue, which gives a shimmering effect, more than with one metallic color alone. I decided to go green on her face and hands, the typical hag look.
I made a glaze of metallic black to brush over the purple-blue, partly for traditional coloring and partly to make the other colors stand out more. I dry brushed other colors on top of the black glaze until it looked almost like patchwork.
I made a glaze of metallic black to brush over the purple-blue, partly for traditional coloring and partly to make the other colors stand out more. I dry brushed other colors on top of the black glaze until it looked almost like patchwork.
She was looking good, but I just didn't like the metallic effect on her face--she looked too mean. She was cute, but her expression didn't show.
She was looking good, but I just didn't like the metallic effect on her face--she looked too mean. She was cute, but her expression didn't show.
I painted over the metallic with a flat peach tone, and changed her scarf to green to separate it from her hair and to match her striped hose. I made her hair purple rather than red, and darkened it quite a lot.
I painted over the metallic with a flat peach tone, and changed her scarf to green to separate it from her hair and to match her striped hose. I made her hair purple rather than red, and darkened it quite a lot.
Then I added face detail, makeup, warts and all. She's a happy girl--a dead ringer for Phyllis Diller.
Then I added face detail, makeup, warts and all. She's a happy girl--a dead ringer for Phyllis Diller.
Finished witch painted with Folk Art craft paints.
Finished witch painted with Folk Art craft paints.
Most figurines have little detail on the back side, but this one is pretty well rounded.
Most figurines have little detail on the back side, but this one is pretty well rounded.

Comments

SVallie 2 years ago

This is a great piece. I just started doing this sort of work myself. I was wondering if you sell your pieces or if you do it for personal pleasure? I have considered selling my pieces [some of which you can see on my site].

charlottebabb profile image

charlottebabb Hub Author 2 years ago

@SVallie,

It takes me too long to paint to make selling worthwhile--I don't like giving my work away. I also don't like painting the same thing over and over. So when I did sell some of my work in the ceramics shop where I bought the bisque pieces or in craft shows, I found that people wanted to pay me what I paid for the bisque.

Your mileage may vary. Good luck to you and happy painting!

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