~Sgraffito ware~ Sgraffito is a technique that I discovered as a young art student trying to figure out what I wanted to do in the medium of ceramics. I was coming into clay from a two-dimensional illustration background and although ceramics was at that time new and exciting, I was struggling with feeling that my ability to draw was not being utilized. The second I started scratching and carving through an applied layer of contrasting clay I knew I had found what I was looking for and for the most part I have never stopped doing it. The grouped objects in the pictured above are examples of wheel thrown vases that vary in size and shape. After the forms were formed, I brush apply a uniform layer of contrasting colored slip to the entire outer wall. When that layer is dry to the touch, I carve or scratch through it using various tools to create surface patterns. Patterns for me, are fun ways to explore positive and negative space relationships as well as ill...