Scratchboard

Scratchboard is something we probably all remember from childhood; the little kits with pre drawn images and the surface scratched away to reveal silver foil. Whilst you can still get the kits, there is a growing group of talented artists in North America who have pushed the boundaries with this technique. As a result you can now buy plain clay boards covered with black India ink and work on your own images. I was really keen to try this, so tracked down a company in the US who supplied the boards. This is one of my first attempts.

The boards are really good quality, very heavy and allow for both deep and light cuts. You can cover mistakes by using India ink to paint over, although I wouldn't recommend this as it leaves a slight sheen on the board. The images can also be coloured with ink or acrylic. You also need to get your head around drawing in reverse, so just putting in the light areas. This technique suits my love of detail and is great fun, so would recommend anyone with a love of drawing giving it a go. I hope it catches on more in the UK not least so I can purchase the boards here rather than paying carrier and import charges!

If you want to know more check out the work of Sally Maxwell or Cathy Sheeter by following the links on this post.    www.sallymaxwell.com/       www.cathysheeter.com/