Scratch Board
Scratchboard (Art)– Scratch Art is a graphic technique. It is used to create value drawings. Scratchboard is a paper board that is covered with wax, clay, or gesso and coated on top with black ink. This lesson is based on this lesson, https://createartwithme.com/high-school-scratch-art-lesson/
Objectives:
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Learn the art medium called scratch art is a subtractive process of drawing.
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Learn scratch art techniques to create various values and textures using hatching, cross-hatching & stippling.
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Create a drawing using subtractive and sgraffito techniques.
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Materials:
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Wooden scratching tools stick/toothpick
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Stylus with metal tip (advanced students only)
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Scratch paper​
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Pencil
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Reference for final image
The process:
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The scratchboard surface starts out solid black. When you scratch or “etch” the surface (black ink) using scratch tools you reveal the board beneath leaving a white mark.
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You must plan carefully for where you will etch the light out. This process is called SUBTRACTIVE. This technique is similar to drawing with white pencil over black paper.
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You can use a variety of strokes as you scratch. Depending on the object that you are working on – you should use different value techniques to show the texture of this particular object.
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NEVER SCRATCH THE WHOLE OUTLINE OF THE DRAWING!!! Outlines ruin a feathered or furry edge!
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Always keep a piece of paper under your hand while scratching.
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Don’t touch the surface of the scratchboard with your fingers-they are oily & this may prevent scratching from happening.
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As a general guideline – USE SMALL STROKES!!!! Smaller strokes are easier to control the scratching process.
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Step back and examine your piece from a distance to see if you are getting the value ranges you desire.
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CREATE VALUE with scratchboard... It is important to remember:
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Creating Value on Round Surfaces. Lines should FOLLOW THE CURVATURE or contour of the object.
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THE CLOSER THE LINES ARE TOGETHER, the LIGHTER THE VALUE.
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THE FURTHER APART THE LINES THE DARKER THE VALUE.
CREATE TEXTURE with scratchboard by using a variety of strokes as you scratch. Depending on the object that you are working on – you should use different value techniques to show the texture of that object. Scratchboard value is created through hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling.
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Hatching: Creating value by using a series of parallel lines. The CLOSER the lines are together, the DARKER the value.
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Cross-Hatching: Creating value by using 2 or more intersecting sets of parallel lines.
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Stippling: Creating value by using a series of DOTS. The closer the dots are together, the darker the value.
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When creating texture with scratch art- Important Things to Look at:
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Type of Line: straight or curved.
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Line Direction: up, down, diagonal.
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Line Length: short or long.
