Language
Portuguese, English
Duration
3
Difficulty
Beginner
Next Date
16/03/2026

There is something about painting on ceramic that feels different from anything else. My azulejo workshop in Lisbon takes you into one of Portugal’s most iconic artistic traditions, teaching you the techniques behind the painted tiles you see covering churches, train stations and building facades all across the country. By the end of the session you will have painted your own pieces and understood why this craft has survived for centuries.

We start with a short introduction to the history and cultural context of azulejo tiles, because knowing where something comes from changes how you relate to making it. From there we move into the technical demonstration, where I walk you through the painting techniques step by step before you pick up a brush yourself. The rest of the session is yours to work through your own pieces, with guidance available throughout from our specialist instructor.

What you’ll learn

🎨 The history and cultural significance of Portuguese azulejo tiles

🎨 Traditional tile painting techniques from scratch

🎨 How to work with colour, pattern and repetition on ceramic

🎨 How to plan and execute your own tile composition

What’s included

🖌️ Specialist azulejo painting instructor throughout the session

🖌️ Two ceramic pre-fired tiles per participant

🖌️ All painting materials and equipment

🖌️ Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks (water, juice, coffee)

🖌️ Professional kiln firing of all finished pieces

What you leave with

Two fired ceramic tiles that you painted yourself, ready to hang at home as a permanent piece of Portuguese craft made by your own hands.

We are the Hands On team and we design private workshop experiences for individuals, couples and small groups across Portugal. Whether it is a birthday, a date night, or just an afternoon you want to remember, we take care of every detail and can bring this experience directly to your space anywhere in the Lisbon region. Tell us your group size and schedule and we will make it work.

Never painted on ceramic before? That is exactly the point. Our instructor is there from start to finish and nobody leaves without something they are genuinely proud of.