DIY Folk Tin Pots

Repurposed coffee tins, using leftover fine art oil paint, transformed to decorative pots for storage or plants.

COLOR Selection for designs on Folk Pots

Finished Folk Coffee Tin Pots & the pet portrait, 'Luna & The Waterfall'
the left over paint from Luna was used to paint the coffee tins.

When I start a painting, I create color mixing charts.This year I have a pet portrait of Luna, a beautiful Shepard, and a commission to accomplish. That means I have leftover paint mixes from each session of painting the portrait.

Picking up each prepared coffee tin, I go into automatic mind, spontaneously brushing on brush marks with the leftover oil paint. The Folk Pots are developed in their unique designs over several painting sessions.

PREPARE COFFEE TINS: First step is labels, removing the glue, cleaning, two coats of gesso and two coats of REUSABLE paint (oil based interior house paint). The color of the base paint happens to be a beautiful blue that works well with all the colors painted over top. Once these coffee tins are prepared, I can have some fun with a few strokes here and there until all are finished.

CLICK HERE: 2020 link to details for preparations.

See other colors & designs.

2025 Dozen Folk Coffee Tin Pots BELOW

The cost of art supplies is expensive and I do not like waste. One day I thought why not use the leftover oil paint to transform coffee tins into decorative planters and storage containers. Sadly President Choice Coffee no longer comes in tins but I still have a couple dozen saved up for a couple more years of hand painted Folk Coffee Tin Pots.

I like to use the Folk Tin Pots in my garden features, pots for indoor houseplants, storing STUFF decoratively on shelves and giving as gifts. The plastic lids I place them on the bottom for planters or for decorative storage the lid keep everything inside. On my kitchen counter I have two of the finished Folk Tins to store all my large kitchen cooking utensils.

NOTE: The planter pots will last about 3 years. Nail a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Once the Folk Tin Pot is used for plants, the dirt inside the pot will rust it from the inside but the painting on the surface does not flake off and will stay beautiful on the outside until one day you go to lift it up and your thumb goes through and crumbles. Time for the garbage but do repot your plant in a new pot. The size of the coffee tin fits perfectly in so many places.