Newbie 101

[*AquaMarine*]

Greetings All!

I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks or so, absolutely captivated by the stunning and beautiful work you create. I am an absolute total novice (and have no art training), so please forgive me asking such an elementary question.

Since I hope to start my first scratch in the near future, my first question is...do most of you transfer your image to scratchboard using a black graphite paper? I know Cathy mentioned that in the tutorial in the Animals/Wildlife section (which I thought was a superb and very helpful intro, by the way! ). I have seen WIPs and other tutorials where people use such things as white charcoal pencil? I know there's always individual preference - but just curious what you all use to transfer to board, presuming the substance comes off fairly easily.

Thanks so much!
ginny

[fire angel]

Welcome Ginny!! I don't know what everyone else uses, but I do use the graphite transfer paper for my drawings. It works well for me. Have fun!!

[Rodman]

On smaller ones. I even just run a pencil on the back of the drawing to transfer. Pretty easy. I have used chalk. I think I like the pencil better.

Please feel welcome to our little playground!

[lorna12]

Welcome!

The are two kinds of wax free white graphite transfer paper out there that I have used. My favorite is Chacopaper (I get it a Michael's Arts and Crafts)...it goes on easy and stays on unless you want to remove it with a damp cloth or brush. A close second to that is Saral which is sold at Blick's.

I tried chalk and soft pastel but find they rub off too easily.

Looking forward to seeing your work!

[*AquaMarine*]

Greg, Rod-man and Lorna - Thank you SO MUCH for your replies! I guess it's just like anything, you have to experiment and find what works best with you, but I very much appreciate these tips and specific names/brands, etc. (We just got a new new Michael's here, Lorna, so I'll look for the Chacopaper). I tend to really 'read up' and study about strategies/tips before trying a new skill and just need take the leap and start!

Thanks again and I really love viewing your beautiful work!
ginny

[kdkbrown]

The way I transfer is completely unconventinal. Photoshop cs and your printer and poster board work beautiful for transfering your image on to white claybord. Check out this youtube demo. http://www.youtube.com/DonnaRaeSmugmug

[PatrickHedges]

I'm the dodo among the group. I just draw freehand on the board with a pencil, sometimes a white coloured pencil but mostly just a normal graphite one. Do I make mistakes? Hell yeah! But never fatal so I'm happy doing it this way.

By the way, what you can't remove with an eraser generally vanishes under a coat of varnish or even fixative.

[ElizaLeahy]

I must be blind - I can't see it on the black unless it's white. I use white color pencil, but that wipes off under my glove. So I mostly use saral paper.

[MychaelShane]

Welcome Ginny!

I tried the old white chalk on the back of a drawing and using that as a means to transfer the image to the board by tracing over the drawing but I had a tendency to eventually wear away the lines so I started to do my drawings on just plain paper then laying that over clayboard and thne retracing the image using a red ballpoint pen (to tell which lines I've already gone over - remember my attention deficit issue LOL) then that usually leavse a slight enough impression on the soft clayboard for me to begin scratching!

Again welcome aboard and can't wait to se what you produce!

[*AquaMarine*]

Hi Everyone - Just want to thank everyone who responded with tips and strategies for transferring drawings to board. I'm a little embarrassed asking about something so basic, but this is all new territory for me. I'll definitely try some of these approaches and see what best fits my idiosyncracies.

DonnaRae - I marveled at watching your work on youtube!

Again, thanks all for your replies!
ginny