16. Mediterranean Tile Motif Painted Tray
What This Idea Means
Inspired by Portuguese Azulejos and Spanish hand-painted Talavera ceramic tiles, this tray showcases intricate tile patterns painted side-by-side on the bottom of the tray.
Supplies Needed
- Square or long rectangular tray
- Cobalt blue and brilliant white paint
- Tile pattern stencil or ruler
- Fine detail brushes
- Glossy topcoat
How to Make It
- Base coat the interior of the tray with bright ceramic white paint.
- Divide the base into equal square sections using a light pencil and ruler to represent individual tiles.
- Using cobalt blue paint, fill each square with matching or alternating tile motifs (florals, diamonds, and scrollwork).
- Outline each tile square with a thin blue border line to separate them visually.
- Apply a high-gloss topcoat to give the painted wood the glossy shine of real glazed ceramic tiles.
Tips and Variations
- Tip: Stencils can speed up this process if you don’t want to hand-draw every tile motif.
- Variation: Use vibrant terracotta, teal, and yellow hues for a Mexican Talavera tile effect.