Scratch Art
Show Stopping Scratchboard Len Mathes, South El Monte High School, South El Monte, CA
Learning Objectives: Students will:
1) become familiar with both the scratchboard technique and how to apply watercolor over scratchboard to enhance the design,
2) understand the value in using the Internet as a rich research tool and
3) learn the importance of thinking and planning skills in solving the intricacies of the scratchboard technique.
Art Materials:
1) Black scratchboards (preferably large)
2) Scratch knives and penholders
3) Watercolor sets
4) Photos of animals or plant life
Vocabulary: Sgrafitto Line
Color Layering
Texture Contrast
Directions
The subject matter focused on close-up (sometimes extreme) views of an actual animal, flower or plant. It must be a photo of something found in nature. Students hone their research skills to find a particular animal from which to make their compositions most intriguing. Seek out images that possess high contrast, visible texture, and unusual compositions. Once the animal picture is selected, follow the steps to copy and enlarge your picture.
Heavy pressure is used to “dent” the scratchboard underneath, so students can easily identify the areas to be scratched out. The scratching process is sometimes tedious and arduous. Scratchknives might require sharpening several times with a small file. An assortment of scratchknives is necessary to remove either large white areas or small textured are as such as fur and feathers. (It is useful to give students small practice sized swatches on which to explore the technique.)
As scratching proceeds, tap the boards to remove “scratch dust”. The boards should not be rubbed clean as debris may become embedded in the lines.
Adding Color
Traditional scratchboard is left white, once scratching is completed. Watercolor can be added to create exciting colorful effects. Apply watercolor in very light, thin layers and gradually build them up. Remember students must remove the black areas of the board to accept color. Eyes are the perfect example where the black areas might be removed to allow the colored parts of the eyes to be filled in.
The results of this lesson are amazingly realistic and impressive. View the exhibit of student work in the gallery section of this website.
http://scratchart.com/gallery/scratchboard.html
http://www.hyperspacestudios.com/scratch-art.html
http://www.geocities.com/flowerdo/
http://www.danberg.org/index.html
http://www.cswdesign.com/a_illustration.HTM
To print and re-size your Photo:
!. Find the PHOTO you like on line.
2. RIGHT click the picture.
3. Select Copy and click.
4. Go to start
5. Open Adobe Indesign
6. Select New Document, regular size paper, if your picture is TALLER than it is WIDE, then choose PORTRAIT if it is WIDER then it is tall choose LANDSCAPE.
7. When the page opens, go to edit, then PASTE.
8. Use the black arrow tool, Grab the corner of your picture and drag it to fill the page.
9. Go to OBJECT, Select fitting and choose Fit Content proportionately.
10. You may have to repeat this step couple of times to get it to fill the page. You can let parts you don’t want hang off the page.
11. Go to File Print, in the Print dialogue box, make sure to choose the printer room 105, then on the left choose OUTPUT, under color choose Composite Gray. Then click PRINT. This will give you a black and white copy of your picture, making it easier to scratch out.
