If you're looking for ceramics workshops in Barcelona, you'll find quite a few options. What you won't find anywhere else is what Paint Barcelona does: ceramics with UV glazes that glow under black light.
It's not a minor detail. It completely changes the result, the experience and what you take home.
What is UV ceramics?
UV ceramics is exactly what it sounds like: ceramic pieces painted with fluorescent glazes that react to ultraviolet light. In normal light, the colours are bright and intense. Under black light, they glow in a way no conventional glaze can match.
The process is the same as at any ceramics studio: you choose your piece, paint it with glazes, we put it in the kiln, and you collect it fired and glazed three days later. The difference is the glazes. The ones we use at Paint Barcelona are fluorescent, specially formulated to react to UV light, and food-safe once fired.
The result is a mug, plate or bowl with two lives: one in normal light and a completely different one under black light. And both look spectacular.
Why no other studio in Barcelona offers it
Conventional ceramics studios work with traditional glazes. They're durable, come in a wide range of colours and give good results, but they're nothing like the effect of UV glazes under black light.
The reason no other space in the city offers this comes down to equipment, specialist glazes and the know-how needed to combine ceramic techniques with a UV setting. It's not just a matter of swapping one glaze for another: you need to know how fluorescent pigments behave in the kiln, at what temperature they set, how they mix and how the colour changes between the raw application and the final fired result.
Paint Barcelona has been working with this combination for some time, and the results are predictable and consistent: every piece that comes out of the kiln has a finish that surprises even people who have painted conventional ceramics before.
Which pieces can you paint with UV glazes?
The studio has more than 20 pieces to choose from. The most popular are:
Mugs. Our most popular piece. It's easy to handle, designs flow nicely around the cylindrical surface, and the result ends up in the home of whoever uses it every morning. Under black light, a mug that already looked nice becomes something completely different.
Plates. More surface to work with. Central designs, motifs around the rim or geometric patterns have plenty of room. They work especially well as decorative pieces.
Bowls. The curved surface adds a little challenge that makes the result more interesting. Designs that run all the way around are especially striking under UV light.
Other pieces. Jugs, vases, decorative figures and more shapes available at the studio.
→ See all the details of the UV ceramics workshop at Paint Barcelona
How the Print & Trace method works with UV ceramics
One of the most common stumbling blocks in ceramics workshops is the design. The curved surface of a mug isn't easy to draw on freehand, and the difference between the raw colour and the final result makes it hard to predict how it will turn out.
The Print & Trace method solves the first problem: bring any reference on your phone, we print it, you trace it straight onto the piece with the help of a light, and you can paint over a precise design without having drawn anything. The result is yours, but it doesn't depend on your drawing skills.
The second problem, colour, is solved by our studio team. Before you start, we explain how UV glazes change in the kiln, which colours become more intense and which work best under black light. That way there are no unpleasant surprises when you collect your piece, just the piece you had in mind.
The difference between UV ceramics and traditional ceramics
Neither is better than the other. It depends on what you're looking for.
Paint Barcelona's UV ceramics are the choice if you want the wow factor of the black light effect, and a more striking result unlike anything you've painted before. The moment we switch on the black light and the colours burst into life is every group's favourite.
Traditional ceramics with conventional glazes are the choice if you prefer softer, earthier colours, a more handcrafted finish or a palette with shades that don't work well under UV. It's also the option if you want a wider choice of pieces.
If that's what you're after, right next to Paint Barcelona is La Pintoràmica Born, on the same street, with more than 100 ceramic pieces and traditional glazes. They're different spaces offering different things, but both are in the heart of El Born and both let you create something handmade that's ready to collect in a few days.
If you're not sure which suits what you have in mind, ask us before booking and we'll help you decide.
Who is UV ceramics for?
For anyone who wants to try something new. If you've already painted conventional ceramics, the UV version is a completely different experience. The wow factor of the black light effect is one of a kind.
As a gift. A mug or plate painted with UV glazes is a gift unlike anything you can buy. The person who receives it gets a unique, handmade object with a visual effect they won't find in any shop.
For groups and hen or stag parties. The black light moment is the highlight of the session: everyone takes photos of their pieces, comparing results gets people talking, and the group leaves with a souvenir of the day.
For anyone who says they can't draw. The Print & Trace method removes that obstacle from the very first minute. The result always surprises the person who made it.
Where to do it in Barcelona
Paint Barcelona is at Carrer de l’Esparteria 12, in El Born, two minutes from Santa Maria del Mar and the Picasso Museum.
UV ceramics sessions last between 90 and 120 minutes and include your piece, all materials and firing. Pieces are ready to collect from the studio three days later. Booking is online, and we recommend booking ahead for weekends.
If you'd rather do ceramics without UV, remember that La Pintoràmica Born is right next door, with traditional glazes and a wide selection of pieces.
→ Book your UV ceramics session
→ See all the workshop details
Frequently asked questions
Are UV glazes safe to use with food?
Yes. The fluorescent glazes used at Paint Barcelona are food-safe once fired at high temperature. You can use your mug or plate with complete peace of mind.
How long does it take for a UV ceramic piece to be ready?
Three days from your session. The piece goes into the kiln after the workshop and is ready to collect once it's fired and glazed.
Can you see the UV effect in normal light?
In normal light the colours are bright and intense. The fluorescent effect only appears under a UV light source. At the studio we keep black light on throughout the session so you can see the effect as you paint.
Do I need any previous experience?
No. The Print & Trace method lets you create a precise design without drawing freehand. Our team is with you throughout the session.
What's the difference between Paint Barcelona's UV ceramics and La Pintoràmica's ceramics?
Paint Barcelona uses fluorescent UV glazes: what sets it apart is the black light effect. La Pintoràmica, right next door in El Born, works with traditional glazes and has more than 100 pieces to choose from. They complement each other: if you want UV, choose Paint Barcelona; if you prefer conventional glazes or a wider choice of pieces, choose La Pintoràmica.
Can we do UV ceramics as a group?
Yes. Paint Barcelona tailors sessions to groups of 6 or more, with the option of a private space. For large groups, get in touch directly.