What type of paint works best for clay pots

You can find patio paint right in the same area as the other acrylic paints

I have a terra-cotta pot that my friend painted as a gift to me waaaaaaay back when we were in Girl Scouts. It still looks great, I have it in my kitchen. I think you could use dollar store paint and then give it a few coats of flat/matte spray clear acrylic. She only painted floral designs and my name around the top, nothing solid.