Author: Cathy_Sheeter, Contributing Editor

Almost any texture can be created with scratchboard, but the artist needs to keep in mind that scratchboard is a form of etching and everything must be done with either dots (stippling) or lines. The impression of shading is created through the use of lines/dots that are thinner or thicker and either closer together or further apart. Pure white areas can be achieved by scratching all of the black off to reveal the white clay below, and solid black by simply leaving an area unmarked. In general there is no gray, only black (unscratched) or white (scratched).

Since this article is about scratching animals, let's talk about fur. Understanding the dynamics of fur will help us create it realistically. We will be using the photo to the right for a demonstration later on, so I'm going to use this photo to point out difference in the fur. Fur comes in many different lengths and finenesses, often varying on different areas of the same animal. To create animals that look realistic, the artist must pay attention to the length and coarseness of fur in different areas on an animal.

Each individual hair on an animal has a specific shape. It is widest at the base (shaft) and narrows at the tip. This can be replicated by making sure that your stroke with a tool ends in the same direction that the hair ends. Since you naturally decrease pressure when ending a line, it creates a shape similar to a hair. Hair also has a direction that it grows in. It is important to be attentive to the direction of hair and where it changes direction. Sometimes it has a smooth transition and other times more abrupt. A very clear and detailed photo to work from can make this much easier to see. While hair does have a general direction, areas of hair are not 100% parallel to one another, but rather with slight variation. To create a realistic look, vary the angle within 5-10 degrees from the general growth direction.

While most mammal skin is generally covered by fur, there are areas that are not furred, including the eyes, tip of the nose, lips, gums, teeth, tongue, etc. Also domestic animals may be wearing a collar or tack that is smooth. Smooth areas are best created with very small cross-hatch lines and stipple. Because smooth areas do not have a direction per se, you want to vary the direction of the lines or use dots (or a combination of the two).

So now we will do a bit of a work-in-progress to show how I create a drawing in scratchboard. The first step is a good line drawing on regular paper. I like to outline major changes in shading or coloration and sometimes also make note of major changes in the direction of the fur, especially if it is complex with multiple changes in direction (fortunately, there are usually not too many complex hair changes). An accurate initial drawing is imperative to the accuracy of the finished work. I then transfer my line drawing to the black scratchboard with black graphite paper. I have tried a variety of ways to transfer to the black board and this is my favorite. The lines can be seen but are not overly visible and mostly dissolve with a final fixative spray at the end. Since they are only a slight shade different than the board itself, my scanner does not pick them up to show you.

Don't wait - discuss this topic with fellow artists now in our forum!

[ Previous Page ] [ Next Page ] Quick Jump: [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ]