Clay Sgraffito

Final Clay Sgraffito

Funky Froggy

Approx. 5" by 4" by 4"

Materials: clay, various tools, pink underglaze, super glue, oil pastels, encaustic, acrylic paint, false eyelashes, spray enamel

Artist's Statement:

Jillian Wight

Medsker

3D Design

26 March 2021

I think that the driving creative force behind this work was exploration. Since clay is a fairly new medium to me and I have very little experience with sculpture overall, I really wanted to take this opportunity to strengthen my identity as an artist by experimenting with new art forms. I wanted to try and carry the style I developed in 2D Design over into my 3D works, and I think that this assignment allowed me the space to play around with how I expressed this personal style. I chose to create a frog for my clay form, because I thought that its unique shape would be an excellent canvas for my sgraffito designs. I also like the playful vibe that is associated with frogs, and thought that could help guide me as I added to the piece. I formed a frog with only one eye, because I thought it was unique, intriguing, and played into the funky style I hoped to create. In my sgraffito designs, I was able to adapt some of the themes from my 2D work such as fine detail, patterns, and layered lines. I went in with color afterwards to add the vibrancy which characterizes a lot of my other pieces. Overall, I am so happy with the result and I had so much fun paying around with this assignment.

I utilized a number of materials to create this piece, most of which were new to me! First and foremost, I formed the shape of the frog out of clay. I manipulated the clay with my fingers, as well as with various tools which helped me attach appendages, smooth the surface, and highlight finer details. Once I had a shape I was happy with, I used underglaze to coat the frog. I chose a light pink color, because it made me happy and I thought that this positive energy would be reflected in my work! I then used clay tools to carve sgraffito designs into the back and legs of my sculpture, and covered these with more glaze. After this was fired, I used superglue to reattach any missing limbs. In order to fill in the cracks caused by these repairs, I used encaustic which I then covered with acrylic paint. I also used acrylic paint to color my frog’s eye. To highlight the sgraffito designs and add color, I used oil pastels on my frog’s back and legs. I thought that false eyelashes would add intrigue and a comical element to my piece, so I attached them using superglue and finished the piece off with a spray enamel!

I experimented a lot as I worked towards a finished product. After my underglaze dried, I attempted to carve my sgraffito designs into the back and legs of the frog. However, I had a lot of problems with the limbs falling off, and the glaze chipping away. I decided my only option was to take advantage of these hurdles and use them to fuel my creativity. I decided to remake any broken pieces and reglaze them, but ended up keeping the sgraffito on these parts very minimal. I then carved my designs very deep into the frog’s back, making sure to add simple patterns behind complex detail to add contrast and balance. I then reglazed the entire back and legs, so that the design I had created was deeper than the surface. I went over the surface with oil pastel to highlight and emphasize the sgraffito, and I’m really happy with how I was able to turn this situation around! I am also really proud of my use of encaustic to fill in the cracks that were created when my piece broke. Overall, this was a very trust-the-process work. I think that my form came out well, and the negative space in between appendages wasn’t distracting or problematic. I’m happy with my sgraffito design and use of false eyelashes, and I think my identity as an artist is reflected in this work!

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