Scratchboard
CREATING VALUE AND TEXTURE WITH LINE
VALUE
Value refers to lightness or darkness.
You will be using line to create lighter areas and darker areas in your drawing, so that they help create the illusion of 3-dimensional form.
TEXTURE
Texture refers to the feel of a surface, or in a drawing, the illusion of that feeling (i.e.: rough, smooth, furry, etc.)
You will use line to create the illusion of texture, or implied texture.
PROPORTION
Proportion refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in a design. The issue is the relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Use scratchboard to recreate a photograph (that you have taken). The photo should be black and white and contain a full range of value.
You will have to use the element of LINE to create VALUE and TEXTURE in your drawing.
PROCESS:
STEP ONE: IDENTIFY A PHOTOGRAPH THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTERPRET IN SCRATCHBOARD
A good photo will have a distinct subject, a full range of value, possibly low key lighting (a fair amount of darkspace) and visible natural texture.
STEP TWO: TRANSFER YOUR IMAGE TO THE SCRATCHBOARD
This can be done in several ways but, generally, tracing (as demonstrated in class).
STEP THREE: BEGIN TO SCRATCH.
Generally, it works best to identify and scratch the mid-tones first. Remember to err on the side of too dark. It is much easier to go back and scratch more away to lighten areas more than to try to darken already scratched areas.
DO NOT OUTLINE EVERYTHING. You will want to approach this as a value drawing, not an outline drawing.
STEP FOUR: FINE TUNE
Go back in a lighten or darken areas as needed
TECHNIQUE BANK
Stippling
Using a series of dots.
More dots, closer together = lighter value.
Fewer dots, more spread out = darker value.
Contour Hatching
A series of lines, similar to hatching, but the direction of the lines follow the CONTOUR or the SHAPE of the object.
Cross-Hatching
Similar to hatching, but with the addition of "criss-crossing" lines.
Closer, thicker, more layers = lighter value
More spread out, thinner, fewer layers = darker value
Varied Hatching
A series of lines, similar to hatching, but lines go in various directions.
Good to imitate the texture of fur or hair.
OTHER TEXTURES
Try out the following textures/techniques as well:
Wavy Lines
Solid White
Hair/Grass
Rain Drops
Use the techniques from your technique bank to create texture (the implied feeling of a surface) and value (light and dark areas).
IMPORTANT!
Remember that the areas you scratch out will be white, and the areas you leave alone will be black. The is the OPPOSITE of regular drawing. Keep this in mind while you create value. It will take a little getting used to! You DO NOT want a NEGATIVE image!
INSPIRATION
International Society of Scratchboard Artists- Some cool links to scratchboard artists
Scott McKowen- graphic designer, illustrator, scratchboard artist & more.
Mark Summers- illustrator and literary portraitist
Solly Gutman- some nice landscapes/cityscapes
Melissa Helene- A nice resource for many things scratchboard- history, demos, techniques, tools, and amazing animal images.
Are you able to sequentially reproduce a variety of values using multiple line types?
Selecting the Ideal Image: Self-Assessment
