bob Bickel

What is Scratchboard?

Scratchboard is made of a piece of 1/8" thick Masonite. On the rough side of the Masonite they put a thin layer of white clay. On top of the white clay they add a layer of India ink. The India ink can be any color, but I prefer black. Some artists after scratching, will add color using acrylic paint. I stick to just black and white.

Scratching is done using a sharp pointed hard metal object, such as a tattoo needle.

After the scratched image is done, I spray the board with a couple of coats of clear acrylic to somewhat protect the surface from scratching. The surface should be cleaned only with a soft facial brush, like what women us to apply makeup. Do not attempt to clean the scratchboard with soap and water. The scratchboard should be displayed in a clean environment away from the kitchen.

Artist Bio/Statement