Sgraffito/ Plate Project

Inspiration- Video notes on the use of the sgraffito technique

Process

For this project, I decided to form a plate using a slab-rolled piece of wedged clay. I then used a metal pedestal to place my slab over and cut around the circular surface to get a perfect circle to begin my plate. I then let my piece set and dry a bit between two solid boards and fabric. After drying a bit, I then used a bowl or jar to trace the mid section and rim of the plate. I then began cutting out little bits of clay in the circle I traced, using a sharp clay tool. After this, I spent a lot of time carefully layering my royal blue underglaze (Speedball) over both sides of my plate, roughly around 5 layers. After letting my underglaze dry, I looked up a reference to tribal Aztec designs. After finding the right design, I began using light pencil marks and a ruler to cut my plate into 4 or 5 sections. After this, I got ideas from my reference to begin tracing designs into the different sections. After entering a greenware kiln, I then layered around 2 to 3 good coats of Amaco clear gloss glaze over the entire plate. My plate then entered a bisque kiln to reach completion.

Judgment

I am extremely impressed with the final result and am excited to expand my skills in this fun technique of making designs. I am surprised though, by how lucky I was that my designs turned out so precise; best results using this technique are achieved if you keep the piece covered and lightly hydrated. I kept my plate in an opened bag, but still got the designs I was hoping for, if not better.

                                             Below is my reference for the Aztec designs

  Beginning Stage

 

 

                                                                        Final Piece