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. . . . .

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.

The Sketch Challenge!

I am posting some sketches that I have made the last few weeks.  I am challenging my students and myself to make sketches every day this summer.  I am posting some here to inspire and motivate them to keep working.  I hope that some of the rest of you will also take the challenge.  Draw something every day. It can be small or large, serious or silly, from life or just a doodle, color or black and white.  Use pencils or paint or fingernail polish or ketchup - anything - just get some images on a surface.  Some of mine were very quick. Some were in meetings (even in church.) A few were drawn over several days, investing about 15 minutes a day until it was complete.  I also have been playing with my very wee watercolor set that I will take on my travels this summer.  (Judi, thank you for teaching me the little "wee" word.  I love it. So Scottish.) Also, here is an artist blog from two years ago. This lady traveled by car across the Great Plains and painted in the car as she traveled.  (No, she wasn't driving! Her friend was.)
http://vvaughanusa.blogspot.com/

I want to do that.  I'm not sure if I could paint in the car, but I would sure like to try.  Anybody want to drive???

If any of you make sketches and want me to post them, email them to me at janngogh@gmail.com. 

I hope my grandchildren will join in the challenge and send me photos.  They love to draw and paint as much as I do!