Scratchboard is a medium in which the artist uses an ink-covered board (usually black) and scratches away an image. The resulting artwork is made up of white lines on a black surface.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

SUPPLIES:

Scratchboard – Depending on where you live, you might be able to find these in an art store. When I’m working with a class, I purchase 8″ x 10″ pieces from Blick.com. Many art supply stores (especially those online) have other types of scratch art paper available, including paper with rainbow or metallic colors underneath the black ink.

Small practice pieces of scratchboard  – If you haven’t used scratchboard before, you may want some extra practice before beginning your piece of art. I just take one of the 8 x 10 pieces and cut it up.

Scratchboard stylus or scraping tool – This is the tool you use to scrape the blank ink away.  If you are purchasing a scratchboard kit for a child, you’ll find they often come with a wooden stylus for scratching with. Unless the scratchboard they are working on is very thin paper, these generally don’t work very well. My favorite tool to use with students are here.

Pencil

Drawing or computer paper

Light colored chalk or pastel

Getting Started

When you use scratchboard, you are actually scratching away black ink that has been applied to the surface of a white board. When you are just starting out, it’s often easier to see what gets scratched off if you use artwork as a reference. Then, once you have a feel for the medium, you can use  a photograph or the actual object.

To start, choose one of the pictures below. These are simple drawings, but they will help you learn how to handle the scratch tool.

1. Draw the picture on your drawing/computer paper with a pencil, making any changes you want on the paper.

2. When you’re satisfied with the drawing, transfer it onto the front of your scratchboard paper. To transfer it, take a small piece of light-colored pastel or chalk and rub it on the BACK of your drawing.’

3. Flip the drawing right-side up and line it up with the front side (black) of the scratchboard. Holding tightly to the paper so it doesn’t move, TRACE over your drawing. If you pulled a corner back, you would see that the chalk is being transferred to your scratchboard. If the paper moves as you are tracing, try to line it up again with the part you have already drawn. If this is too difficult, just brush off the chalk that has been transferred, rub more chalk onto the back of your drawing, and start again. You can also tape the scratchboard to the table using masking tape, then tape the drawing on top of it.

4. PRACTICE SCRATCHING: Set your scratchboard with the transferred sketch aside, and take a minute to practice using the scratch tool before working on your actual picture. With a small piece of scrap scratchboard, practice making lines with the stylus, holding it like a pencil and moving it towards you. If the stylus seems to be “digging” into the paper, hold it more lightly. It you are working with a younger student, it often helps younger students if you hold their hands as they hold the stylus, and you scratch the surface together. It may take a little while to get the hang of it – but don’t worry! Once you figure out how to use the stylus, scratchboard is a lot of fun.

5. When you feel comfortable using the stylus, begin scratching your final picture, following the lines you transferred onto the paper in chalk or pastel. Use the same types of strokes that you would use when drawing with pen and ink: hatching, cross-hatching, contour lines, short lines for fur on animals, etc. Instead of seeing black on white, however, you’ll be seeing white on black.

6. Scratch in a signature, and you’re done!

Scratchboard is one of my favorite mediums! You can see how I illustrated the picture book Firefly Night in scratchboard HERE.