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How Sgraffito is Created on Pottery
Sgraffito, from the Italian word “sgraffiare” meaning “to scratch,” is a traditional pottery decorating technique. The process involves applying layers of underglaze or colored slip to leather-hard clay, then scratching through the surface to expose the natural clay beneath. This reduction process allows potters to carve images, patterns, and textures, creating high-contrast designs. Sgraffito can be applied to functional pottery, tiles, or sculptural forms, and works beautifully for both simple and complex designs.
Below are three example projects at different difficulty levels:
- Basic Sgraffito Project - Ceramic Tile
- Simple Sgraffito Project - Mug
- Complex Sgraffito Project - Urns
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Tools and Materials
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Wire Stylus Tools for Sgraffito
We recommend fine-point wire styluses for clean, detailed carving. Kemper wire stylus Sgraffito tools are widely available online and through ceramic supply stores.
Mini Ribbon Sculpting Tools
Mini ribbon sculpturing tools are excellent for controlled line work and removing underglaze.
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Wire stylus tool: where to buy
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Mini ribbon sculpturing tool
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Clay: The clay should be at the leather-hard stage, firm enough to hold its shape under light pressure but not so dry that it cracks or resists carving. This stage provides the best surface for clean, sharp lines and prevents accidental gouging or smudging. For stronger contrast, we us Standard's clay 181 white stoneware
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Rubber shaper for clean up
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Leather hard clay (tile / coaster)
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Transfer design to tracing paper and then use sharp pencil and trace design to clay. Tracing paper is flexible and able to withstand the wet clay and multiple tracings. If using black underglaze, we like Amaco V-370 or LUG-1 (V-370 has slightly better coverage). Both perform well up to cone 6 glaze firing.
Design pattern on tracing paper
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Trace pattern on clay with pencil
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Lift tracing paper and verify
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Use underglaze or colored slip
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1. Basic Sgraffito Project - Tile
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Apply 2-3 coats of underglaze, apply additional coats in alternate directions, and wait to dry before starting the scratching-off process. The tools and the pressure you decide to use are dependant on the affect you wish to see on the clay. If looking for rougher surface texture, push the tool a bit harder and take more material using more pointy tools. Scratches can have uniform or random patterns. NOTE: Only use a soft dry brush to remove debris to avoid damaging the colored areas.
Apply underglaze evenly (2 coats)
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Insure tracings can be seen
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Remove color where desired
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Unwanted colored areas removed
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To refine your lines and keep the surface clean, use rubber shapers or wooden modeling tools to gently clear away burrs and rough edges. Once the carving is complete, thoroughly clean the surface with a dry brush to remove any loose debris before firing or glazing.
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2. Simple Sgraffito Project - Mug
The cups below use a slightly different technique than above. Only the traced pattern is painted on and the outline and lines within the pattern are scratched off.
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3. Advanced Sgraffito Project – Two Urns
This project shows how Sgraffito can be used on curved surfaces with detailed designs. Working on urns requires careful planning, steady carving, and attention to drying stages. The steps below illustrate how layered underglaze and precise line work create bold, intricate patterns that elevate a simple vessel into a refined decorative piece.
Using 1/4 slab rolled in slab-roller
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Urn made and in a leather-hard state
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Draw design on a tracing paper
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Carve outline first
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Scratch off within the outline |
Patty Storms hard at work
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Sgraffito partially done
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Done, drying ready for bisque firing
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Cone 6 glaze fired |
Finished Sgraffito Pottery Examples |
Sgraffito owl vases
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Vases with geometrical design |
Sgraffito fern design vase
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Sgraffito house lantern
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Sgraffito octopus
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Sgraffito vase with red and black
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Sgraffito fish vase
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Sgraffito olives vase
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Glazed-fired Sgraffito - Patty Storms
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Sgraffito mushrooms vase
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Sgraffito container with a lid
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Sgraffito Ostriches vase
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Sgraffito turtles vase
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Sgraffito geometrical pattern vase
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Sgraffito fish bowl
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Sgraffito bowl with three Octopuses
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Sgraffito Salmon bowl
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Sgraffito - back of Salmon bowl
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Sgraffito manta ray bowl
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Sgraffito mushroom and fern vases set
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Sgraffito tree frogs vase
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Sgraffito vases
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Sgraffito octopuses bowl
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Sgraffito boxes with lids
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Sgraffito octopus bowl
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Sgraffito salmon bowl
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Sgraffito honey bees bowl
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Sgraffito manta ray bowl
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Finished Sgraffito tiles:
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