Bonnie Macintosh

On to your next decorating technique: SIMPLE SGRAFFITO!

This involves 'scratching' through powdered enamel to expose another (fired) colour underneath. (You all know the word 'graffiti'!).

Have ready a pre-enamelled blank, sifting area (magazine paper, sieve, powdered enamels, palette knife), sharp implement to 'scratch' with (scriber, cocktail stick etc.), stilt, pre-heated kiln. It is also helpful to have made several tracings of your blank, and to have practised, in pencil, simple 'line 'designs.

METHOD 1.

Choose 1 or 2 opaque colours which will contrast with the base colour of your pre-enamelled blank. (A medium and/or dark colour on a light-based blank; a medium and/or light colour on a dark-based blank). You may use more than one colour, but remember: one colour/sheet of magazine paper to avoid contamination of your enamels. Sift these lightly, one at a time, over the pre-enamelled base. You should still be able to see a hint of the base colour through your powder.

Use a fairly pointed instrument to carefully draw or 'scratch' through the powdered enamel, exposing the base colour underneath. Transfer the blank to a stilt, and into a heated kiln (check your kiln chamber colour!!). Fire until just shiny. (Overfiring will cause the scribed lines to merge and the pattern to become indistinct).

AN ALTERNATE METHOD:

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