Sgraffito Clay Tile

This project was kind of in conjunction with the scratchboard project in which we would scratch out a design on a clay tile instead of a scratch board. For this, I used formal balance with the two dragons facing away from each other near the middle of the tile. The materials used were a square piece of clay, a black undercoat and topcoat glaze, scratching tools, and a scratchboard.

To compose my piece I first rolled and cut out a piece of clay and then cut out a scratchboard that would match the tile. Next, I sketched and scratched out two dragons, an eastern dragon and western dragon, in the middle of the scratchboard facing away from each other. After the clay was fired into a fragile state I painted on a black underglaze. I then sketched out the design on the tile and scratched it out. After the tile is fired again, glazed with the top coat, and then fired again.

I probably went with this design because I wanted to represent both sides of the culture I grew up in. I went with the design of a dragon because I was born in the year of the dragon. Although the East and West have different cultures some ideas are still the same. If I could do this again I would like to add more designs to the background.