Food-safe and built to last
I use ceramic paints approved for contact with food. After kiln firing they're water-resistant and durable - they don't change the taste of your drink and don't come off in hot water.
Mugs · everyday gifts
Hand-painted mug, truly one of a kind.
I paint mugs to order with special ceramic paints. Water-resistant, durable, temperature-safe. Every piece is unique - even copied, it wouldn't come out identical.
Why a mug
A hand-painted mug held every day.
A hand-painted mug is a portrait you use every day. It's there each morning with the first tea or coffee - a gift that doesn't end up forgotten on a shelf, but gets picked up daily.
It works for birthdays, name days, Mother's Day, Women's Day, Christmas, thank-yous, a promotion, graduation, a housewarming. It also works with no occasion - as a gift to yourself or to someone who has everything.
Every mug is a unique piece. Even if I painted the same motif twice, it wouldn't come out identical. Whoever gets it owns the only one like it.
What I paint
Hand-painted mug: portrait or your idea.
A pet, a person, a couple, a motif or a quote. We combine elements so the mug fits the occasion, the subject and the person who'll hold it every day.
- 01
Pet portrait
Dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig. The most popular option - a gift for the owner who loves their animal to bits.
- 02
Pet pair portrait
Two dogs, a cat and a dog, two guinea pigs. Single or double silhouette - depending on how you want to show them.
- 03
Illustrative portrait of a person
A single person or a whole family, in my original narrative portrait style. A gift for an anniversary, birthday, holidays.
- 04
Two- and three-person portrait
A couple for a wedding anniversary, child with a parent, siblings, best friends. I compose figures so the relationship shows.
- 05
Custom design
A quote, a slogan, a botanical motif, a scene from a holiday, an inside joke between a couple. If you have an idea, I'll bring it onto a mug.
- 06
Botanical or pattern design
Flowers, leaves, patterns, a motif in your style - a mug doesn't need a portrait to feel personal.
Selected work
See my sample realizations.
Technical side
Hand-painted mugs, fired in a kiln.
I paint with paints designed for ceramics, approved for contact with food. After kiln firing they're water-resistant, durable and temperature-safe. They work in the dishwasher, though painted mugs really prefer a wash under the tap.
Base vessels are chosen for durability: beige ceramic, classic Ikea, retro enamel in two sizes, a cup with a saucer. We pick together for the occasion - a mug for grandma's 80th birthday will differ from one for a wedding anniversary.
Painting time depends on the complexity - from a few hours for a simple motif to a few days for a detailed portrait.
How collaboration works
How a mug takes shape.
4 steps, clear milestones, no surprises. From the first email to a parcel in your hands.
- 01
You send an inquiry
You describe who or what I'm painting, on which vessel, for what occasion. You can attach photos of a pet or person, or we can just talk through the idea.
- 02
We agree on details and quote
We pick the vessel (ceramic, enamel, cup), motif, mug count and timing. I tailor the quote to what you actually need.
- 03
I present the design for approval
I create a graphic design and show it for your review. You flag notes, we lock the details, pose, colors - together.
- 04
I paint, fire, ship
I paint with ceramic paints, fire in the kiln (fixes the pattern), pack safely and ship across Poland. International shipping available on request.
Why it works
What a hand-painted mug gives you.
Truly one of a kind
Even if I painted the same motif twice, it wouldn't come out identical. Whoever gets it owns the only mug like it.
A gift picked up daily
It's there each morning with the first tea or coffee - a portrait you actually use, not something forgotten on a shelf.
Pricing
Hand-painted mug, custom quote.
Price depends on design complexity (a quote and a portrait are two different worlds), mug count (a set or a single piece), base vessel and timing. I tailor it to what you actually need.
You get a quote after submitting the form. I reply within 48h. Shipping across Poland, packed safely. International shipping available on request. VAT invoice.
Use cases
Where a hand-painted mug works.
- 01
For the newlyweds
2 mugs with a shared motif or a portrait of the couple - a wedding gift mug newlyweds hold over morning coffee, not one they shelve.
- 02
For a wedding anniversary
A portrait of the two of you, or your wedding date, across 2 mugs you drink from together - an anniversary gift you reach for every morning.
- 03
A thank-you for parents
A mug with a family portrait or a motif that means something - a thank-you for parents or wedding witnesses that lands better than one more bouquet.
- 04
For a milestone birthday
A mug for grandma's 80th or grandpa's jubilee - with a portrait, the grandkids or a favorite flower. A personalized mug you won't find in any shop.
- 05
A set for the family
A set of mugs for the whole family - each with its own pet, name or character. They match, and yet no two are the same.
- 06
A cup and saucer
A hand-painted cup and saucer for someone who makes a ritual of afternoon tea - a more elegant form than a mug, with the same original portrait.
Frequently asked
Hand-painted mug - questions.
The questions clients ask most often when ordering a mug as a gift. Missing something? Write to me.
01 Is a hand-painted mug a good gift idea? +
A hand-painted mug is a great gift for a loved one (or not so loved). First of all it's one of a kind, so it works for birthdays, name days or any other occasion - including no occasion at all.
02 Do you ship mugs internationally? +
Default shipping is across Poland - Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Rzeszow, Poznan and every smaller town or village. International shipping is available on request - I quote carrier cost separately based on destination. Mugs are packed safely with bubble wrap in a rigid box that protects against breakage.
03 What occasions does a painted mug fit? +
Birthdays, name days, Women's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas, Easter. It also works as a thank-you, a housewarming gift, a promotion or graduation gift - or simply as a gift for yourself.
04 Are the paints safe? +
Yes. I use ceramic paints specifically designed for contact with food. After kiln firing they're durable, water-resistant and safe for the user - they don't change the taste of the drink and don't come off in contact with hot water.
05 What makes hand-painted mugs special? +
The mug or cup as a base is very durable, and so are the special paints I use. Every piece is unique - even if I painted the same motif twice, it wouldn't come out identical. The owner gets something nobody else has.
06 How long does the painting take? +
From a few hours to a few days, depending on how complex the design is. Simple motifs can be ready in one day, more detailed projects need more precision and time. We agree on the deadline up front - if the mug is for a specific date, we plan with a buffer.
07 How do I care for a hand-painted mug? +
Best to wash by hand, with warm water and gentle dish soap. Avoid abrasive sponges that can scratch the decoration. The dishwasher and strong detergents can damage the paints over time, so better to skip them - this way the mug lasts for years in the same form.
Start a project
Got a project? Let's talk.
I make art that stays - with emotion and attention in every project. Children's book illustration delivered worldwide, wedding and B2B event live painting across Poland - every project starts the same way: an inquiry, a conversation, a decision. Write to me directly. The Bujnowłosa studio is me and a decade-plus of practice.
From the studio blog
More from my studio.
Blog originally in Polish - English translation in progress.
Painted mugs· 9min read
Kubek personalizowany z psem - jak powstaje?
Jak pracuję nad kubkiem ręcznie malowanym z portretem psa - od zdjęć referencyjnych, przez oddanie charakteru pupila, po dodatkowe elementy i napisy.
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Oryginalny prezent ślubny
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Rodzaje kubków ręcznie malowanych
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