Draw Something, Dammit

**JefmcC** · 21 Jan 2010, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Hero

Almost forgot Copic markers...

Too bad it's only a bunch of grays and three skin tones...

Hey, I like the grey scale stuff!

JM · 26 Jan 2010, 05:42 PM

This is a scratchboard self portrait I did for the last show I was in. It is kinda messy with lots of pencil marks and stray scratches all over, but I did it in one night the night before the show. I still like how it came out. I just got access to a big enough scanner to get a good copy of it, so here it is.

**YellerDog** · 26 Jan 2010, 05:50 PM

Woah, intense! That's really great!

**Kev** · 26 Jan 2010, 09:13 PM

One is a doodle I did to make a friend laugh when he was down, and is based on actual events.

The other was a doodle I did a few months back at church when I was feeling kinda down.

**Dunlap** · 26 Jan 2010, 11:24 PM

Quick scratchboard question, JM, since I've rarely used them. I assume you lay your image out in pencil first, do you work directly onto the board or do you do it on paper and then use tracing paper to transfer cleaner lines? Can the pencil marks then be erased later without messing the board's texture up?

JM · 27 Jan 2010, 02:02 AM

Originally Posted by Dunlap

Quick scratchboard question, JM, since I've rarely used them. I assume you lay your image out in pencil first, do you work directly onto the board or do you do it on paper and then use tracing paper to transfer cleaner lines? Can the pencil marks then be erased later without messing the board's texture up?

I've used several different techniques to lay down marks for scratchboards, I always use a lead pencil and make the marks as lightly and sparingly as possible because you really can't get it off later. What I try to do is only mark areas that are going to be taken off with the incisions from the SB tool. When making my first incisions I use the pencil marks as light marks, keeping the SB surface at an angle so I can see the light reflecting from the pencil marks on the matte ink.

In the past for anything I don't feel comfortable freehanding I'd do a printout of the image I need in the proper size (not hard to do since SB's are generally pretty small.) Then I'd take an exacto or razor and cut portions of the outline making sure that I don't cut any outline all the way through. Then use it as a layout for your pencil marks. You could also try to rub graphite on the back of the image and transfer it that way, but you will probably make nasty impressions into the surface of the ink when you press hard enough to transfer the graphite. The ink and clay underneath is pretty soft.

If you can get a hold of some scratchboard nibs and a decent nib holder you won't regret it. The plastic holders that come with certain SBs or the bottom of the line models can really mess your fingers up after using them for long periods of time. I got a really great wooden nib holder at a specialty pen shop that feels really nice. I've had the tip of my index finger go numb for days after extended SB projects using a shitty nib holder.

Fixative is also good for when you are done. These things are pretty fragile, getting bad scrapes can ruin a piece. Also the board can be soft so if you drop it you can easily crush the corners.

Let me know if you have any other questions. Not enough people use these things. =)

JM · 27 Jan 2010, 02:20 AM

Here are two more quickies. Did both of these for some friends, they are separate portraits, But I scanned them next to each other just to save time..

These were bought as clayboards and I applied the ink myself. Once dry I treated it like a normal scratchboard. This method is good for when you know you want a lot of negative space, it can save a ton of scratching.