How Is Sgraffito Done

Sgraffito (in Italian “to scratch”) is a decorating pottery technique produced by applying layers of color or colors (underglazes or colored slips) to leather hard pottery and then scratching off parts of the layer(s) to create contrasting images, patterns and texture and reveal the clay color underneath.

What is the sgraffito technique in ceramics?

Sgraffito (Italian: [zɡrafˈfiːto]; plural: sgraffiti) is a technique either of wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colours to a moistened surface, or in pottery, by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive layers of contrasting slip or glaze, and then in either case

What can I use for sgraffito?

I use a rubber-tipped air tool and a soft cosmetic brush to blow or brush off the cuttings. The cut pieces are still moist enough to stick if you touch them to the surface, so they should be removed frequently. You can use a thin coat of wax resist to protect light-colored areas from dark cuttings.

Can you wash off underglaze?

You can dilute underglaze with water, and apply it in washes like watercolour. Some people spray diluted underglaze with an airbrush. I found it helpful to sponge or brush some water onto the pot first before following with a brush full of underglaze.

What is sgraffito What are the benefits for using this technique?

Like stucco, terrazzo, and Venetian plaster, sgraffito is used as a way to add texture and depth to a surface. One benefit for artists working in this method is a degree of control not typically seen in other types of techniques. Sgraffito is also extremely popular in the creation of pottery and ceramics.

What is the difference between underglaze and glaze?

A glaze consists of ground-up materials suspended in water, which is applied to the piece. When it is fired, the ingredients melt together to from glass. The clay body and the underglaze contain glass-forming ingredients. However, when the glaze is fired, all the particles in the glaze melt to form glass.

Can you layer glazes?

Layering multiple glazes will build up increasing amounts of glaze on your pot. Use a lower specific gravity on the second and third layers, submerge the piece in glaze for a shorter period of time, or use brushing or spraying to apply thinner coats. Always let glazes dry between coats.

Why do people use sgraffito?

The artists first started using sgraffito on the exterior of buildings, using it to create incredibly detailed frescos on housing and palace facades. Incredible examples of the sgraffito technique remain across Italy, particularly in Florence and Pisa.

Can you sgraffito Bisqueware?

Making sgraffito pottery involves scratching through a top decorative layer to expose the underlying clay body. The decorative layer can be underglaze, slip, or engobe. However, the sgraffito technique can be used on bisqueware too.

What is Obvara firing?

The obvara firing process, which originated in Eastern Europe around the 12th Century, involves scalding the finish on the pottery to seal the porous surface. Similar to the raku pottery process, a bisqued pot is heated, in this case to 1650°F (899°C) and removed from the heat.

What does sgraffito mean?

1 : decoration by cutting away parts of a surface layer (as of plaster or clay) to expose a different colored ground — compare graffito.

How many coats of underglaze do you need?

A solid base layer of 2-3 coats of underglaze is important for the color to appear without streaking, but once you’ve got that down, you can use introduce water into the mix and start thinning down your underglaze to create washes.

What does Overglaze mean?

overglaze in British English (ˈəʊvəˌɡleɪz ) adjective. (of decoration or colours) applied to porcelain or pottery above the glaze.

What are the best sgraffito tools?

Paint brushes and rubber shapers are used to remove unwanted material.

1. Kemper Tools WLS Double Ended Wire Loop Sgraffito.
2. Jack Richeson Wire Loop Sgraffito.
3. SE 12-Piece Stainless Steel Wax Carvers Set.
4. HTS Stainless Steel Hollow Tip Carver Wax & Clay Sculpting Tool Set.
5. Xiem Studio Tools Ultimate Tools for Clay Artists.

Can you put underglaze on Bisqueware?

3. Underglaze on Bisqueware. Many commercial underglazes are made to work on greenware and bisqueware. This means underglazes are super versatile and can potentially save you time if you are running a tight firing schedule.

Can you put underglaze on the bottom?

To sum up, as a general rule, underglaze will not stick. However, the method you have used to apply it and the brand of underglaze may affect your results. Sometimes, underglaze color transfers onto the bottom of the pot and, therefore, the kiln shelf itself.

What’s the difference between sgraffito and Mishima?

What is Mishima? Mishima on the other hand, is essentially the opposite of sgraffito, as you inlay the slip or underglaze, or fill in the color, rather than scratch the top layer away to reveal it. You can add additional colors to the piece to finish the design before firing.

What is the Mishima technique?

Mishima is a technique of inlaying slip, underglaze, or even clay into a contrasting clay body, the main clay body of the pottery piece. This technique allows for extremely fine, intricate design work with hard, sharp edges that can be difficult to reliably replicate in any other way.

Do you paint pottery before you fire it?

A slip—a liquefied suspension of clay particles in water—can also be used to color clay pottery prior to firing. Slip painting better matches the clay’s shrinkage, which in turn means less worry about heavier applications popping off during drying or firing.

What glaze is used for sgraffito?

Typically a clear or semi-transparent glaze is used over a carved sgraffito design to allow the contrast to to show. Here’s how to do it: After your piece has reached leatherhard, and you have finished trimming it, paint a coat of slip onto the pot while it is centered and turning on the wheel. Do not paint the rim.

Can you apply slip to bone dry clay?

When slip is applied to bone dry clay, one part of the pottery will be much wetter than the next. As such slip won’t stay liquid and doesn’t create the liquid soup for clay particles to move about in. So, generally slip is not used to join pieces of bone dry clay.

How do you make a sgraffito tool?

Using a pair of needle-nose pliers, bend the staples to shapes that will work best for your sgraffito work. Put a small dab of Gorilla Glue in each drilled hole, then insert the wire shape into the hole. Note that Gorilla Glue expands while it dries. Dry the tool in an upright position for 12 hours.