sgraffito practice

Sgraffi to

Sgraffito is the technique of incising down through a layer of applied contrasting slip or underglaze to the clay body below producing an outline drawing.

Glynnis Lessing

Kathy King

More Sgraffito Examples

Crystal Nolfo~Brown

What’s your design?

To begin, you need a theme and inspiration Nature or Industry Rural or Urban Abstract or Cultural

Brainstorm ideas for all three. Do you want to make a statement, tell a story, make a cultural connection?

Once you have an idea, start to look for visual imagery to use as reference

Complete 6 thumbnails of different possible designs, then choose your best and do a full size final drawing

Remember this must be a LINE drawing or design Craftsmanship is important and the key to success!!!

Task: Sgraffito Tile

Plan out and draw your final design at full size (no smaller than 4”x4” and no bigger than 6”x6”).

PREPARATION & PLANNING ARE ESSENTIAL. Roll out a tile to the size you planned using low fire

clay at 3/8” thick, then coat with contrasting colored slip.

Decide on your color plans – white or red clay? White or Black slip? Where you are going to apply the slip?

Think about what will be White, what will be Red, or what will be Black.

When sketch is complete, copy onto tracing paper. When tile/slip is dry to touch, transfer your design

and begin scratching away areas as planned.

Ready to begin?

① Choose a color plan and roll a slab using your clay/tile color of choice (Do this before you leave today!!!)

② Work on your planning and design while clay dries – you want it dry to the touch

③ If dry enough, apply the contrasting slip color

④ Finalize design