Photography by WAYNE MARTIN.

HEAD into your average home-ware store and what do you see? Row upon row of virtually identical plates, mugs and bowls. Flawlessly made, homogenous and unmistakably impersonal.

While the perfectionist in you may nod in appreciation, “white is chic, isn’t it?”, where’s the individuality or creativity? “Your” favourite vase is on countless other tabletops across the country, and you’re drinking out of a coffee cup that’s sipped out of by strangers, many miles away.

Putting your personality and a personal touch into your abode is easier than you’d think. With hand-painted ceramics, you can decorate your home and garden just as you’d like it, with pottery that you’ve painted, in a style that you have chosen.

You may fancy a crazy, psychedelic-coloured angel fish or a vibrant turquoise pukeko, painted by your own fair hands, for your home or garden. You could also furnish your home with life’s little treasures. Why not immortalise a tiny painted footprint of your new baby, or a smudged paw-print of your family’s pampered pooch?

Ceramic painting is easy to do, reasonably economical and useful. If you’re a perfectionist, it can take some getting used to, but once you leave that unhelpful quality at the door, you’ll discover a relaxing outlet for your creativity that brings out the artist (accomplished or otherwise) in all of us.

Howick mum-of-three Pam McNickle knows this first-hand, having transformed the hobby into a fully fledged business.  After falling in love with ceramic painting while on a family holiday in Nelson, Pam pursued her passion and went on to set up Crumbles Ceramic Studio in 2005.

Rows of creamy-coloured ceramic pottery line the shelves in her studio, now based in Moore Street, all just waiting to be personalised. “We do a lot of tiles for homes,” says Pam. “Lots for kitchens and bathrooms, and above the fireplace. Garden ornaments are also popular.” Special occasion gifts are also a winner for people choosing to paint pottery for birthdays, Mother’s Day and anniversaries.

RELAXING: Ceramic painting is a great way to relax and make something in your own style that reflects your personality.

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UNIQUE: Furnish your home and garden with colourful ceramic pieces, painted by your own fair hands.

A word of warning though, perfectionism isn’t welcome in Pam’s studio.

A self-confessed perfectionist, she learnt long ago that there’s beauty in the “oopses” and magic in the flaws. Identifying the uneven brushstrokes and slightly wonky lines can be strangely uplifting. After all, if you want perfection, buy it in a shop – but where’s the fun in that?

Just chill out and enjoy it, that’s Pam’s advice. “You do have to lighten up a little bit. Usually a few wines helps,” she laughs. “It’s not an exact science. I’ve learnt over the years that art is not perfection. That’s the beauty of hand-painting.” 

Pam says the art of ceramic painting is becoming increasingly popular with people of all ages. “It’s a relaxing activity where you take your mind off everything else. I enjoy being creative and trying new things. I like creating something that I can use, like a plate or bowl. It’s not something that just sits there on the shelf.”

She sources ready-made ceramic pieces from Kiwi suppliers throughout the country, including Palmerston North, Auckland and Christchurch. Along with wielding a paintbrush, people can choose from a range of techniques, such as sponging, stenciling and stamping. People from all walks of life visit the studio and paint a variety of ceramic pieces, such as plates, mugs, platters, bowls and garden ornaments. Most pieces cost between $12 and $30, with the largest platters priced at $75.

“All the pieces here are bisque-wear,” says Pam. “After they are painted and dried we dip it in clear glaze and then it gets fired. It’s that clear glaze that makes it shiny.”