A hand carving a green and white pot

About Sgraffito

Sgraffito (from the Italian for “scratched,”) is a surface decoration technique in which clay is covered with one or more layers of colored slip. A design is then scratched or carved through the upper layer, revealing the color below. There is a long history of sgraffito work dating back over a thousand years.

For my sgraffito work, I generally begin with a white clay body, which I paint with underglaze or slip once the clay is firm and partially dried. I use a variety of commercial, homemade, and repurposed tools, including specialized, small carving tools, dull pencils, abrasive-tipped styluses, and soft brushes. With these I to scratch and carve my designs through the surface layer, beginning with a light sketch, then carving lines and details, and finally scraping away larger areas. I finish my sgraffito process by brushing away crumbs, smoothing edges, and touching up the painted surface as needed.

After the piece has fully dried and been through an initial bisque firing, I apply glaze to the piece, using a clear or translucent glaze over the sgraffito portion to show the design. The work then has its final firing, and once the kiln has cooled, the finished pot emerges.

I work in sgraffito for its capacity to accept anything from the finest of details to the boldest of images. In the past I’ve been drawn to relief printmaking techniques such as woodcut, linocut, and wood engraving. By carving my designs on clay, I’m able to incise these types of two-dimensional images into the textured surfaces of three-dimensional objects. I draw much of my inspiration from geometric and repeated patterns, automatic drawing techniques, and the varied forms of flora, fauna, and fungus.

A black dish with white carving in a wavy pattern.A black dish with white carving in a wavy pattern.A black dish with white carving in a wavy pattern.A black dish with white carving in a variety of patterns.A black dish with white carving in a variety of patterns.A black dish with white carving in a variety of patterns.A black serving dish with white carving in a floral pattern.A black serving dish with white carving in a floral pattern.A black serving dish with white carving in a floral pattern.A black dish with white carving of a bat.A black dish with white carving in a skull pattern.A black dish with white carving in a skull pattern.A black dish with white carving in an abstract floral pattern.A black dish with white carving in a swirling pattern.A black and white dish carved in a geometric pattern.A black and white dish carved in a geometric pattern.A black and white soap dish carved in a geometric pattern.A black rectangular dish with white carving in a variety of patterns.A black rectangular dish with white carving in a variety of patterns.A black oval dish with white carving in a fern pattern.A black dish with white carving of ducks on water.A black freeform dish with white carving in a monstera leaf pattern.A black dish with white carving in a linear pattern.A black dish with white carving in a linear pattern.A stack of two black and white dishes carved in different patterns.A black platter with white carving in a leaf pattern.A black platter with white carving of a nautilus.A hand holding a green and honey-colored bowl carved in a geometric pattern.A black and white bowl carved in a geometric pattern.A black mug with white carving in a variety of patterns.A black mug with white carving in a variety of patterns.A black mug with white carving in a floral pattern.A black mug with white carving in a squiggly pattern.A black mug with white carving in a squiggly pattern.A black and white mug carved in a geometric pattern.A green and honey-colored mug carved in a geometric pattern.A dark green and white mug carved in a geometric pattern.A blue, green, and honey-colored mug carved in a geometric pattern.A black and white mug carved in a bat pattern.A black and white mug carved in a bat pattern.A black mug with white carving in a skull pattern.A black tumbler with white carving of an octopus tentacle.A white cup with green and white carving in a floral pattern.A brown and honey-colored planter carved in a geometric pattern.A brown and honey-colored planter carved in a geometric pattern.A black and white planter carved in a pattern of eyes and hands.A black and white planter carved in a pattern of eyes and hands.A black and white planter carved in a pattern of eyes and hands.
Wood-Fired Pottery →