Realistic Scratchboard Drawing

I'm calling this project, Paradise because I took this photo while I was on vacation. The subject is a landscape based off of a photo of a palm tree with the ocean in the background. I chose to create this specific artwork because I thought it was a really good quality and pretty picture that I took. For materials, I used graphite pencil, ink, a ruler, scratchboard paper, and the scratchboard tools. I used a variety of techniques and methods including: cross hatching and stippling.

While, creating this artwork, I paid close attention to color and texture by carefully observing the photograph and making small lines on the scratchboard paper to match the color and texture of the photograph. I wanted my artwork to look like a palm tree branch and I did that by gridding and going square by square. To add interest to my composition, I used contrast by having some areas that were gray, some that were completely black, and some completely white, to match my photograph.

I like the way my art looks like a tropical scene, and I am proud of how I was able to take my time to make it like like the photograph as much as possible. However, I struggled with making gray tones. If I created another artwork like this I may try more techniques. My work shows that I learned how to use scratchboard to make a realistic looking drawing.