Sgraffito Tile

For this assignment we needed to create our own design to scratch into our tile with pokey tools and underglazes. The subject of my creation is based on art I did with Lucy in like 8th grade. My tile is a direct representation of what our entire math pages looked like by the end of the day. Materials that I used include pokey tools, underglaze, metal scraper tool, sponge, spray bottle, water, paintbrush, pencil, paper, and clay.

For the tile I took some clay and flattened it on the table with my hand. After that I took the slab and put it through the slab rolling machine using the hand crank. I then traced a paper template that was the size of the tile I needed (rectangle) and cut it out with the pokey tool. I then smoothed it out with the metal scraper tool and painted underglaze over it. Then I traced the design I had drawn on a piece of paper over the tile with a pen to transfer the design. We then used these tools that are often used in rubber stamp making to carve the clay out on the lines. After everything dried, I put a clear glaze over it and it went in the kiln.

The meaning behind the artwork is the connection it has to Lucy and my childhood. This relates to my life because it is definitely unexpected and a bit crazy like me. I am the proudest of the fact that I was able to fit some much in a small space. I struggled with the design part. I scratched the design with my left hand so it came out a bit messier than I expected but I still liked it. Also there was the incident with the kiln where the glazes and tiles sort of melted together a bit creating a line on the tile. I don’t mind it at all because like yolo.