Scratchboard
Scratchboard is a unique art medium which produces pictures of amazing realism,
incredible detail, or fascinating contrast. It is "The art of taking away" as you start with
a black surface and scratch off to show the white underneath.
History of Scratchboard
Before modern photographic methods for printing in publications etching on metal was
used. In etching a metal plate is covered in wax, the wax is scraped off to leave the metal
exposed, the metal is then dipped in acid so that the lines are "etched" into the plate.
Images can then be printed from this metal plate, showing the image in reverse.
During the 19th century people started to use a chalk or white clay covered surface which
was in turn covered in ink. Once the ink was scraped off the white surface of the clay
would show through. This process was so much like the metal etching that the process
and the finished pieces are still called "etching".
The benefits of scratchboard over metal plate etching were many. It was cheaper, it could
be printed in the same printing process as the text in a publication, and the artist could
draw directly onto the scratchboard surface. The fine detail was ideal for natural history
publications and were available at the same time as the boom in interest of all things
botanical and zoological.
Scratchboard went into a decline once photography was used for illustrations in
publications.
During the 20th Century artists again discovered scratchboard, this time as an art form in
it's own right. Although it does make wonderful prints, now the actual board is the
primary piece of art.
Creating 5 Values
Black: do not scratch away
White: scratch away completely.
Dark Gray: scratch lines that are far from one another.
Medium Gray: scratch lines that are scratched away are near one another.
Light Gray: scratch lines that are close to one another.
Adding Color:
Scratchboard medium is mystifying and also more versatile than most people give it
credit for.
With watercolor, transparent oil colors and inks scratchboard has been bought to life in
living color with an unbelievable realism.
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