Scratchboard: a black-surfaced cardboard having an undercoat of white clay on which an effect resembling engraving is achieved by scratching away portions of the surface to produce white lines.

Scratchboard is a medium I have been drawn to since childhood. I enjoy watching the progression of textures and value that comes from layering many strokes of a blade. I like being limited in value because it feels very stream of consciousness as opposed to being so vast I don’t know where to start.

The white clay board underneath a thin layer of black paint has some shine to it, which makes it difficult to scan or photograph properly without extensive editing.