Decorative Techniques

Incise: cutting into the surface with a sharp tool

Incise lines to create design Incise whole shapes and patterns to create designs.

Student Work

Impress: To mark or stamp into clay using pressure

Clay that has been impressed

You can use just about anything to press into clay and create texture

Applique: Applying clay or other object to clay body in a decorative or functional manner

Leave or petals are added to this clay body to the left as a decorative technique

This teapot has legs appliqued to it serving as a functional and decorative aspect.

**SIDE NOTE**

• In order to attach a piece of clay to another piece of clay you have to prepare the clay pieces

• SCORE: roughing up the surface of the clay to be attached

• SLIP: water or watered-down clay used as “glue” between the two pieces of clay

Student Work

Pierced: To make a hole or opening in clay body

Student Work

Sgraffito: scratching through glaze/underglaze to reveal the clay body or other color

Student Work