Sgraffito Clay Workshop with Amy Smoot 2025

Sgraffito, which means “to scratch” in Italian, is a decorative pottery technique. Once pottery is leather hard, a colored underglaze or slip is applied to the piece of pottery. The potter then scratches off parts of the layer to create contrasting images, patterns, or textures by revealing the original clay underneath. In this multi-day workshop, Amy Smoot will lead participants through the entire process of sgraffito. Students will construct a vessel using handbuilding techniques. Once the pieces are built and leather hard, students will use slip or underglaze to paint the entire surface of their piece. Then, using different tools, students will scratch through to create their designs. This workshop will be held May 31 & June 1 from 2-5pm. This workshop is limited to participants 18+. There is a minimum of 4 participants and a maximum of 12. If the minimum is not met, participants will be refunded.  Please email Amy Smoot at asmoot@ with any questions.  About Amy Smoot: Amy Smoot is from Carrollton, GA and currently resides in Tuscaloosa, AL. She received her BFA in ceramics from the University of West Georgia in 2015. While there, she was studio technician and research assistant in the ceramics area. In 2019 she received her MFA from The University of Alabama where she first began teaching ceramics as a graduate assistant. Her practice consists of all types of ceramics techniques including mold-making, slip-casting, hand building, and wheel thrown pottery.   This workshop is sponsored in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.