Sgraffito Plate

‘Sgraffito’ is probably one of the most easily forgotten words yet readily remembered techniques in ceramics. An Italian word meaning ‘scratched’, this form of decoration involves scratching or carving through the surface to reveal a lower level of contrasting color. The process can be rather mesmerizing, utilizing colored slips, stains, and underglazes that really make any design pop! Sgraffito is a versatile application that works beautifully on all types of clay work, offering a great way to explore surface while developing a potential new style. A sequel to last Tuesday’s video, Crafts Center Clay Studio Manager, Jennifer Siegel, uses that easy dinner plate to demonstrate basic sgraffito technique. To contrast the dark brown stoneware clay she applies a velvet underglaze, made by AMACO, called ‘avocado’ (product ID: V-333). Her tools at hand are a heat gun, a Kemper wire stylus, and a needle tool. Drying underglaze in between layers can be done quickly with a heat gun/hair dryer or simply by allowing things to air dry. Depending on the strength of color chosen, 2-3 coats of underglaze will need to be applied. For example, a strong blue may only need two layers while a vibrant yellow requires a good three coats to ensure full value. AMACO’s velvet underglazes are a wonderful way to add color to your work, we highly recommend them, and there are so many exciting colors to choose from. As a final tip, once the sgraffito process has begun it is crucial not to rub the crumbs that develop back into the clay – just try to ignore them and keep going. When the design is finished and the surface has firmed you can use a dry brush to clean away the excess. Fun, easy, and addicting – enjoy sgraffito!