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.
Detailed video step-by-step demo of a Sgraffito project
Below are three example projects at different difficulty levels:
How to Trace a Design onto Clay Using Tracing Paper
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
Trace pattern on clay with pencil
Lift tracing paper and verify
Use underglaze or colored slip
1. Basic Sgraffito Project - Tile
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)
Insure tracings can be seen
Remove color where desired
Unwanted colored areas removed
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.
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.
Same process applied on a cup
Remove all debris with a brush
Ready for drying and bisque firing
Once bisqued, touch up underglaze
Note: After your design is bisque fired, you'll have another opportunity to touch-up with underglaze before applying clear glaze and glaze firing.
** We use brush-on AMACO Sahara HF-9 cone 6 clear glaze. Use soft brush and be careful with 1st coat to avoid underglaze details smearing.
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
Urn made and in a leather-hard state
Draw design on a tracing paper
Carve outline first
Scratch off within the outline
Patty Storms hard at work
Sgraffito partially done
Done, drying ready for bisque firing
Cone 6 glaze fired
Tools and Materials
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.
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
