Everyday Awesome clay sgraffito project Sgraffito an Italian

“Everyday Awesome” clay sgraffito project

• Sgraffito = an Italian word that means “to scratch away”

• clay sgraffito = scratching away a layer of underglaze to reveal the white clay underneath, typically done to create a design or pattern • Underglaze = a special type of glaze that can be applied to greenware, typically matt (not shiny) • Greenware = dry, unfired clay

• Hatching = shading lines that all go in the same direction • Cross-hatching = shading lines that crisscross • Stippling = shading by using dots

Examples of Cross-Hatching, Hatching & Stippling

Project #1 • Create a slab 6 inches x 6 inches • Paint underglaze over the entire slab while the clay is still wet • Add 2 paperclip hooks to the top, while the clay is still wet • When dry, scratch in a picture of your choice of an “everyday object” – Example: scissors, animal, car, – No logos or patterns or words – Use all 3 shading techniques: hatching crosshatching and stippling • The purpose is to learn sgraffito & to appreciate the interesting things around us that we often overlook

Project #2 • Create a 3 d rectangle out of slabs = 4”x 6” – Smooth it out PERFECTLY • Paint with underglaze while the clay is still wet • Pick a theme of your choice – Example: Nature, bugs, everyday objects, car parts, fame & fortune, cooking, etc • Sgrafitto every side with a different image that goes along with your theme – Hint: trace the photo onto the clay itself with a pen or pencil • FRONT: white background & black/dark sgraffito image • SIDES: black background & white/sgraffito image

We are working from pictures. Print out your picture in BLACK AND WHITE