How to create a ceramic look on a table lamp.

11/26/2021

I found this lamp on one of my trips to my local thrift store. The shape and size was perfect but the colour was a little outdated. The lamp did not work with my decor, but I knew that I could easily transform this lamp with Dixie Belle paint.

Photo credit Pottery Barn

I love the organic, aged look of ceramic table lamps. They are a big design trend, I wanted to recreate the look using Dixie Belle paint. Here are the materials I used and the steps so you can try it out on your next project.

Materials

White Lightning
Slick Stick
Dixie Belle Paint in Coffee Bean, Drop Cloth, Terracotta and Pinecone
Sea Spray
spatula
Easy Peasy Spray Wax
wax paper
small container
Belle brush, synthetic brush & 2 fine art brushes
Shop rags
sanding pad

Step One
Start by giving your lamp a good clean using White Lightning to remove any oil or residue. Let it dry.

Step Two
Since the surface was metal, I used Slick Stick to help the paint adhere. Start by applying a thin coat of Slick Stick over the whole lamp and let dry for 2 hours. Apply another thin coat of Slick Stick and let it dry overnight.

Step Three
Add a scoop of Sea Spray into the container. Next add a small amount of Coffee Bean into the container and mix well. Continue to mix until it has a chunky peanut butter consistency.

Step Four
Using your spatula, apply the mixture and layer the paint onto the lamp moving in different directions. Use a small paint brush to apply and stipple (dabbing) the paint mixture around the base and top of the lamp. Make sure to completely cover the whole lamp base without any of the Slick Stick showing through. Let the paint completely dry overnight.

Step Five
Once the paint is dry, use a small amount of Drop Cloth and brush a light coat over the lamp. Continue to paint until the whole surface is covered and let dry.

Step Six
Once the lamp is dry, use a sanding sponge to distress the lamp to give it an aged effect.

Step Seven
Dab a small amount of Terracotta and Pinecone onto the wax paper. Dip the fine artist brush into Pinecone and dab off most of the paint onto a Shop Rag.

Starting at the base, apply the paint in a circular motion, blending the paint around the base. Then dabb a small amount of Terracotta, wipe off excess and apply it in a circular motion where the blended Pinecone ends. Continue this process adding both colours around the crevices and the center of the lamp to give it an aged effect.

Use a damp Shop Rag and wipe in areas to help blend the paint if needed. Once you are happy with the effect, let the paint dry for an hour.

Step Eight
Make sure to give your Easy Peasy Wax a good shake. Then spray it on the lamp, let it sit for 30 seconds and then wipe over the whole surface. This will help in adding more depth, durability and give it a buttery soft feel.