Defining Space with Slip Trailing, Sgraffito, and Underglaze Ben Carter

Ben Carter thinks about design at every stage of the game when making pots. When he is throwing and altering, he is specifically considering the decoration that he will apply later.

In this clip, an excerpt from Design for the Soft Surface, Ben shows how he uses slip trailing, sgraffito, and underglaze painting in his work, and explains the thought process in deciding where the marks go. Though Ben works with earthenware at the low end of the firing range, but the colored underglaze technique can be used at any temperature range with a suitable transparent overglaze. –Jennifer Poellot Harnetty, editor

This clip was excerpted from Design for the Soft Surface, which is available in the Ceramic Arts Network Shop!

To learn more about Ben Carter or to see more images of his work, please visit www.carterpottery.com.

**First published in 2013.