FAQ: Scratchboard: An unglamorous name for beautiful art

What is "Scratchboard"?

A medium in need of an image makeover

Here's a medium that needs a public relations wizard to do an image make-over! "Scratchboard" sounds like something that was rescued from the waste can! But, in truth, it is a challenging and expressive medium that is only distantly related to the paint-over-crayon "scratchart" of school days.

Clayboard engraving tinted with ink

This would be a more accurate desciption of scratchboard, but it is, admittedly, a mouthful! Some artists use the term "engraved clayboard", which I like better, but am not sure it communicates any better.

How does fine-art scratchboard/engraved clayboard work?

Preparing the board (available commercially as "Claybord":

• Stiff, archival board (like masonite) serves as the base;
• Kaolin clay (the main ingredient in porcelain) coats the board;
• Black India Ink coats the clay layer.

The artist then:

• Engraves lines into or abrades the ink layer, revealing the white clay layer;
• Tints the clay with colorfast ink washes, either color or black;
• Engraves and sands more;
• Tints more;
• Repeats until painting is done;
• Applies a UV protective varnish.

Maggie, my dear, departed Irish Setter, after the first step of engraving through the black ink to reveal lines of white clay underneath. (Click picture for a larger view) ©2008, Susan Donley. Engraved clayboard, 9x12 inches.	Maggie's scratchboard portrait after two inkings and re-engravings. The first ink layer was a dark reddish brown. After I engraved to reveal white again, I applied the lighter coppery color. Then I engraved again to bring up more highlights. (Click picture for a larger view) ©2008, Susan Donley. Ink & Engraved clayboard, 9x12 inches. Artist's Collection. NFS

What makes scratchboard special?

A marriage of intricate detail and vivid color

It's labor-intensive, but this involved method results in a look not possible by any other media I've used:

Intricate details + High contrast + Vivid color = Dramatic, glowing images!

Why? Detail comes from a smooth, hard surface that retains marks made by the thinnest of wire tools. Contrast comes from white against black, the two highest contrast colors that exist. Color glows because the clay surface underneath reflects light better than any paper or canvas could.

"Rosie's First Fall,"©2008, Susan Donley. Ink & Engraved clayboard, 12x9 inches. Artist's Collection. (Click picture for a larger view). NFS	"Smokey, Spaniel-Beagle Mix," ©2008, Susan Donley. Ink & Engraved clayboard, 10x8 inches. Lang Collection. (Click picture for a larger view) SOLD

As I've mentioned elsewhere on this site, previously I've advised customers to turn to black and white (graphite) for touchable textures and realistic detail and to watercolor and colored pencil and especially oil pastel for vivid color. Now with scratchboard, we can have it all: Fanstastic, realistic detail with glowing color!

Fabulous Fur and Feathers

Scratchboard is ideal for depicting the textures of fur and feathers, especially birds' colorful plumage. I couldn't ask for a better medium for my bird paintings! Below are my dentist's Amazon parrot, my Sun Conure, and my cousin's heritage breed rooster.

"Jake, Amazon Blue Parrot." ©2008, Susan Donley. Clayboard engraving (scratchboard) and ink, 12x9 inches. Collection of Richard Affalter, Jr. (Click picture for a larger view). SOLD	"Sunny, Sun Conure," ©2008, Susan Donley. Ink on Engraved Clayboard (scratchboard), 10x8 inches. (Click picture for a larger view).	"Dudt's Salmon Faverolle Rooster," ©2008, Susan Donley. Ink & Engraved clayboard, 12x9 inches. (Click picture for a larger view)

How can I order a scratchboard portrait?

Up till now, I've been experimenting and perfecting my technique on my own projects or friends' pets. But before I start offering scratchboard portraits for sale, I need to work out how to price them. Eventually, scratchboard will be my top-of-the-line product, because it is very time-intensive. But for a limited time while I work out the pricing, I'm offering this top-of-the-line product for the same price as my watercolor/colored pencil portraits! That's $450 for a 12x9 inch portrait that will likely cost $600 shortly.

Act now for Early Bird Savings on a scratchboard portrait!

If you also like the look of scratchboard and are looking for a special way to remember a special pet, email me for more information on taking advantage of this Early Bird <ahem!> Special!

Is scratchboard archival?

Yes -- my Master's degree is in museum studies, so conservation (archival) quality is very important to me. I use 100% cotton, acid-free professional quality boards that won't yellow or become brittle with time. Claybord® by Ampersand is completely acid-free and inert (it won't react with artist mediums).

I choose artist quality color inks, meaning that they are acid-free and contain pigments that are as lightfast as possible. I stick with the most lightfast colors, because nowadays, they've developed replacements for the traditional pigments most likely to fade.

Once a clayboard painting has been coated with UV filtering varnish, it can be framed without glass, like an oil painting. Framing without glass shows off the unique texture of the engraving.

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If you have a question about deciding what medium you'd like for your pet's portrait, by all means, ask: Email me, use the chat box to the right or call 412-828-8679.