Scratch Board

In this assignment, we had to create a design or object using a scratchboard. The first thing that we were required to do was draw a light to dark scale using a small scratchboard (as shown on the bottom left corner). After we completed this, we then had to select a picture of a specific object that had a full range of value. Once this was completed, we could start scratching our picture onto the final board. We used tools that could scratch off the top layer of black that was used for making small details or adjustments for this piece. My picture is of my dog Amber. She was a Siberian husky, and I chose her because she had a lot of different colors in her fur, and I thought she would be perfect for this project.

My piece has a good range of value and line. The project's main base was lines and value, and I personally believe I did a good job expressing those elements in specific areas such as the face, and ears. I think it made the piece realistic and overall good quality. With my piece, I also used emphasis and pattern. While creating scratch marks in my piece, pattern came in handy for different techniques and texture as since in the photo for creating the replica. Emphasis is shown with the black background behind my dog to show clearly that the subject being presented was Amber and not anything else in the back. As you can clearly see, I definitely made a change from the original photo to the scratchboard when it came to the background. When I finished sketching my dog, I was doubtful of adding the background, and when I started to do it, I immediately regretted it. As I started sketching the wood floor, I realized that it looked like a pyramid more than a floor, and added another white wall to cover it up.

Although there is no "story" behind this picture, it does have a direct connection to my life. As I mentioned before, Amber was my dog until about a year ago when she passed away. I thought that this picture would be great for this project not only because she did have so many textures and colors to her fur, but as a tribute to an important part of our family. I am really proud of the face, I think that it appears just as good, if not better than the original photo because of all of the lines and value that I used on this proportion. I struggled a lot with the background, as I went into detail before, and If I had to start over, I think I would get some advice before starting that section to make sure that it would look accurate and well organized.