Scratchboard

Scratchboard is a form of direct engraving with scalpels and sharpened sewing needles to remove a top layer of black ink to reveal an underlayer of white clay. If color is desired, layer after layer of colorful inks are added to the revealed white clay and then scratched again.

Traditional etching and printmaking form the roots of today’s scratchboard art. Because scratchboard artists must work in reverse by applying highlights onto the dark surface instead of shadows onto a white surface, the unforgiving scratchboard medium is considered by many artists to be one of the most difficult of media to master.

Scratchboard requires an artist to think in reverse of traditionally drawing. Working in scratchboard, an artist places down highlights with each scratch, instead of placing down a shadow with every dark line on a white surface. I like the metaphor that scratchboard artists are artists of light, instead of focusing on darkness. In reality, we have to think of both all of the time.

The level of detail and hyper realism that scratchboard makes possible is a veritable feast for an artist of wildlife and wildflowers.

Wood ducks on the nest in black and white by Lindsey Kiser.
A photograph of scratchboard artwork of an orange butterfly called Greater Fritillary on the small white blossoms of the Roughleaf Dogwood on a black background.
The photograph is of original black and white artwork in scratchboard of a hummingbird visiting white Clethra blossoms.
Image of an original work of art by Kentucky Artist Lindsey Kiser of a colorful scratchboard of highly detailed violets in bloom.
Image of an original black and white scratchboard artwork of a hummingbird moth pollinating prim rose by Nature Artist Lindsey Kiser.
Image of an original work of art of a bee pollinating purple blooms, entitled, In the Zone, a Symphony of Concentration, scratchboard and ink, 10
Image of Lindsey Kiser's original scratchboard of daffodils in black and white entitled April Sunshine, which is 6
Evanescence is an original artwork and is a 6
Image of an original scratchboard of a monarch butterfly on a milkweed rendered in color by artist Lindsey Kiser of Kentucky.
Colorful and iridescent scratchboard art of a dragonfly perched on a cattail by Lindsey Kiser.
Scratchboard of a Hummingbird Moth
Image of a Ruffed Grouse rendered in scratchboard by Nature Artist Lindsey Kiser.