Scraper Board Art

Would you like to try a new technique? Have you used scraperboards before ?

How To Use Scraperboard? Technique For Beginners

Commonly known as scratchboard or scraperboard, this technique was originally known as a hobby activity for amateur artists and children who enjoyed drawing with original inspiration from printmaking.

Do you want to know more? If so Please read below.

Characteristics Of The Scraperboard

Drawing by scratching has been known for a very long time. In Italy, graffiti started to rise in the 16th century known as Sgraffito, a wall decoration technique.

The scraperboard consists of a rigid cardboard or wood fibre (isorel) base with a scratchable surface.

The scratch-off layer is made up of a kaolin clay (chalk), glycerine, gelatine, water and India ink to tint the board in black. Then the cards are pressed.

Scraping off the first layer reveals the underlying colour and thus allows for light-on-dark drawing, using techniques that are visually similar to engraving.

GREAT TO KNOW: The black ‘skratch-off’ paint comes ready to use, on a rigid base but is also available in the form of a paste or black paint that can be applied to make your own scraper boards.

Technique

When using a scraperboard, the sketch must be fine because it will be difficult to erase any unwated lines later on. Unlike woodcuts, there is no need to make deep cuts in the surface as the layer is easy and pleasant to work with.

• You can use a graphite pencil to draw the shape to be scratched or transfer the lines thanks to some scraperboards already having designs printed on them.
• When scratching use the pointed side of the Scraper pen for fine or precise lines, the broad side facilitates broad lines.
• Shadows can be worked with hatching, crosshatching, light lines or dotted lines.

GREAT TO KNOW: It takes a bit of practice to master the tip of the scraper pen. You don’t draw on a scraperboard like you do on a sheet of paper. The tip must be at a particular angle to leave a nice line.

Black scraper tiles, used in the Zentangle technique

You Will Need

• scraperboard (white effects or special rainbow effects)
• an assortment of metal blades or styluses

All these tools can be replaced by :

• scalpels, needles, and various metal tips
• woodcutting tools

These products are currently available at GreatArt Online or in the art supply shop in London Shoreditch..

Inspiration From My Studio

Black scraperboards, A5 format

Did you recognise my inspiration for this drawing? Van Gogh indeed.

Content provided by Amylee Paris

The passion of Amylee Paris, painter, consultant and author is to share her paintings between galleries, art collectors and her community. Beyond her pictorial skills and her several eBooks available online, Amylee is also recognized as one of the most influential francophone artist-entrepreneurs. She helps beginners or professional artists to optimize their artistic activity.

You can visit her colourful portfolio, follow her on Facebook and Instagram, or find all Amylee’s posts published in GreatArt online Magazine by clicking here!