Thursday, February 28, 2013

Scratchboard Tutorial


After posting my scratchboard work last week, a few of you ask me for a some instructions on how to create a scratchboard.  More. . . . .


Saturday, February 23, 2013

Ste. Genevieve, Mo

I assign scratchboard projects for my classes every year.  Scratchboard is a board that has a layer of white clay covered with India ink.  When you scratch it, you create a white line. I have taught my students techniques, critiqued their work, help them work through problems.  However, I admitted to one of my classes last year that I had never done a scratchboard.  (Can't believe I did that!) So they challenged me this year to do one and even gave me a due date. Well, I finished it this week, only a month late. (Boy did they have fun with that!!) While I was working on the project, I kept asking myself why I didn't choose something a little easier.  Anyway, it is finished, and I am pleased with it.  I will let my students critique it next week.  I know that my seniors will be completely honest with me.



Ste. Genevieve
8" x 10" Scratchboard
$250 (includes shipping and handling)


      This is from a picture I took in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri several years ago. Ste Genevieve is a very old town on the Mississippi river founded by Frenchmen that had traveled down the river from Canada.  It happens to be the home of some of my French ancestors.  One of them was Nicolas Janis and was the reason my parents named me Janis.  There are many old French style homes in this village including  the Nicolas Janis home  built around 1790.  
      This house is a newer home ( probably 1940's?)  I saw it as we drove into the town. I love the way the light is shining on the front door and was a great inspiration for a black and white scratchboard.