How a Mumbai studio is teaching the timeless art of sgraffito

(From top) Carving and marking on a plate after painting; the original texture of the carving; the changed texture after glaze firing

How does one create art? Usually, you build it from scratch, or paint it, or shape it. But in every method, you require restraint and control. Sgraffito teaches you this rare trait. The Italian art form traces its root to the Italian word sgraffiare that means ‘to scratch.' When applied to ceramic art, it refers to decorating different surfaces of clay using techniques of scratching the clay, and exposing the contrast on the lower level. Aparnaa Garrodia, chief clay officer of Studio Hands Inclay in Ghatkopar, emphasises that this technique unfolds at a pace that feels almost defiant in a city accustomed to speed.

Patience is key

The finished product after the process of plating, painting, carving, and firing the clay

Before a participant arrives, Garrodia shapes a simple plate and allows it to rest until it reaches the leather-hard stage - neither too wet nor dry. She notes, "This state is essential as the clay must be firm enough to withstand carving, yet supple enough to respond to pressure. After this, we guide them through placing a layer of underglaze on this surface. It gives the plate a solid and deep colour. And once your colour dries, it is time for design."

Attendees at a previous workshop. Pics courtesy/Aparnaa Garrodia

She also explains how the first intervention is colour. Sgraffito truly begins when the layer of underglaze dries. Unlike painting, which builds imagery through addition, this technique relies on removal. Designs are scratched on the coloured surface to expose the clay beneath, creating a contrast through absence rather than excess.

Make your own mark

"As far as the tools used are concerned, they are simple and beginner-friendly - wired tools, needle-like tips, and ball head tools - held much like a pencil. What distinguishes each piece is not the tool, but the hand that guides it. Pressure varies instinctively; lines deepen or soften according to the maker's touch. There is no undoing a mark once it is made," said Garrodia.

The pottery wheel at the studio in Ghatkopar

Once the carving is complete, the plate is set aside to dry gradually. Once bone-dry, it is put through the first firing, also known as bisque firing (the first firing of pottery that transforms the fragile, bone-dry clay into a hard, porous ceramic called ‘bisqueware'). This hardens the piece while leaving it porous. At this stage, the plate is durable enough to handle, but still absorbent - a crucial quality for what comes next.

The different types of tools used for Sgraffito marking

"A transparent glaze is then applied, soaking into the fired clay like liquid glass. This glaze melts and fuses with the surface, sealing the carved design beneath a glossy, protective layer. The colours sharpen, the clay vitrifies, and the plate is ready - functional, food-safe, and permanent," explains Garrodia.

Aparnaa Garrodia

Garrodia urges attendees, "Sgraffito is not just about a finished object, but an encounter with slowness. Participants often arrive focused on the end result, yet leave absorbed by the process itself. It demands attention, patience, and trust in one's hand. From raw earth to refined surface, the journey of the clay mirrors the quiet discipline of the maker - thoughtful, intentional, and unhurried."

TILL December 29; 4.30 pm onwards (multiple slots)
AT 702, Vista 2, The Address, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Ghatkopar West.
LOG ON TO district.in
CALL 9930243336
ENTRY Rs 3000