What is scratch board ?

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Scraper board ( or also sometimes called scratch board ) is a white clay board, which can come on hard type boards or thinner more card type surfaces. It has a layer of black ink covering white clay board. This ink is scraped off using a sharp implement, which could be a scalpel, steel wool or any thing sharp you can think of....even a pin. The white is revealed giving a black and white image. Often a stippling effect is used ( doting the tool to create tone variation ) or similar effects using line. This is why animals make great subjects for scraper board as the effect is perfect for depicting hair or fur. You may also colour scraper board using paint, ink or colour pencil.

 

My projects in scraper board vary. I was first experimenting and getting used to the medium and so was drawing images varying from horses, people, native animals, elephant, zebras and dogs. Most of my scratchings are on small boards 15cm by 23cm, but two works have been done on a A3 sized board and some as small as 11cm by 22cm. I did a small series on phobias which was exhibited in the Illustration exhibition at St James Theater. I have recently started painting my scraper boards using gouache paint. My attempts so far have been successful, with an image of a bee and one of a parrot being completed, both of which were exhibited in the NZAS. I hope to be producing more of these colorful detailed works for an up coming series in the near future.

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