Sgraffito Tile

Artist Statement

For this assignment, we were first asked to use small scratchboard practice papers, or regular drawing paper to sketch out a design or image of our choice. I decided to do a whale and a sunset for mine. We brought our designs to Mr. A for approval before our clay slabs were cut out and shaped. Our next step was picking a color and adding the first coat of glaze onto our tiles. I chose blue to go along with the ocean theme. Once the first coat dried completely, a process I sped along quickly by using a blowdryer, we added two more coats, brushing in the opposite direction each time. Finally, we moved on to carving. I was able to lightly draw my design on my tile using a dull pencil, and then started in with my carving tool. My next step was figuring out which parts I would be etching out and the parts the underglaze would remain to ensure a strong positive and negative space interaction within the design. I left the whale and sky blue and scratched out the sun, parts of the whale to add detail, as well as an outline around the tail that was raised into the sky. Once we finished, our tiles were set aside to be fired in the kiln before getting them back the next class to polish with glaze and refire them. For this project, the materials I used was under glaze, a brush, clay, and a scratch tool.

In my final piece I incorporated many of the elements of art to create the principles of design. I used a line to create a pattern on the stomach of the whale, as well as shape to create the triangular patterns surrounding the sun. The use of one glaze color, as well as an equal balance of positive and negative space helped to create contrast and emphasis on the dark blue whale and the white sun.

I experienced quite a few difficulties while doing this project, so I ended with an outcome that I am not extremely happy with. After the first day of beginning our carving, my tile was accidentally placed in the finished pile while scrambling to clean up. I am thankful that I had at least gotten the major points of interest in my piece carved out (the whale, sun, and water), but I ran out of time to add more detail. If I were to go back and redo this project again, I would have made my lines thicker so they would not disappear while being fired in the kiln, and would have left blue ripples around the whale to make it look more like water. I originally had a plan to add small patterns and details around the borders of the slab as well. I am proud of my original design. I have been painting, carving, and scratchingboarding animals for many of my most recent projects, so I decided to stick with that theme. I chose a whale because they are one of my favorite animals. Overall, despite not being able to finish, I do think the tile would have come out cool, and do not think it looks horrible as is.