Sgraffito ‘Elk’ Jar by Kevin & Tricia Naranjo

Amazingly detailed sgraffito pottery jar with ‘Elk’ design.  3 very impressive elk, trees, mountains, etc.  A perfect Avanyu guards the rim of this jar, just above very precise feathers.  LOVELY work!   Created by Santa Clara Pueblo pottery artist, Kevin Naranjo, and San Ildefonso Pueblo pottery artist, Tricia Naranjo.

I apologize, this piece was VERY difficult to photograph!  You can see this piece MUCH more clearly in the video – please watch!

Sgraffito is a technique in which the pottery is burnished, then fired, then the top shiny layer is ‘scratched’ off… this creates the contrast that shows the design.  If a mistake is made, it can’t be hidden / covered up / re-done… one needs to re-think the entire design, or just trash the pottery and start on a new piece.  This is very precise work!