Sgraffito Ceramics Class

With its roots in ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Italian renaissance, Sgraffito is a decorative technique in ceramics that has been used for thousands of years. The word “sgraffito” is derived from the Italian word “graffiare, ” which means to scratch. This technique involves applying a layer of coloured slip (a liquid mixture of clay and water) to the surface of a clay object and then scratching through the slip to reveal the underlying clay body, creating designs and patterns.

In this hands-on ceramics workshop, you’ll get the low down on the basics of working with clay and sgraffito decoration. We'll cover the basics of hand-building including techniques for forming and shaping the material. Once your pieces are made, we’ll apply a slip glaze and spend some time planning designs. Finally, you’ll dive into the sgraffito technique, scratching and etching designs into the layer of clay slip to reveal the underlying clay body. This workshop will include hands-on demonstrations and exercises for you to practice forming and decorating your pieces.

Please note that your pieces will be taken offsite after the workshop for firing and will be available for pickup from our venue 3-4 weeks after the session.

Please note: This class requires at least 5 students to run. In the unlikely event that we don't get this number of students, we'll cancel the class and fully refund you and inform you via email, so please watch your email a few days prior to the class

• 2-3 ceramic pieces made by you
• all materials provided

• Clothes you don’t mind getting a little grubby
• Some design inspo (we highly recommend having a squiz on Pinterest for sgraffito pieces)