Scratchboards & Tools

Dynamic and Precise Drawings

Scratchboard art is quite rare in the sense that, unlike most forms of visual art where the artist is actively creating the boundaries, the shadows and the mid-tones, with scratchboard art, the artist is creating the highlights. By scraping off dark ink from the board, you are able to reveal the lighter colour below. This flip of the norm may seem simple, but it can have some dramatic effects, as it essentially means that figures and objects depicted will appear to come out of the dark background, thus instantly creating dynamism.

User-Friendly Medium

Alternatively, when you want to go for the wood cutting or engraving effect, then you can scrape away the majority of the ink so that the lines left are black-on-white rather than the other way around. This method was originally invented in the 1800s in Britain and France as an easily reproducible alternative to wood engraving. More lately, scratchboards have become a method of choice for some of the most exciting illustrators in the world of graphic novels. On top of that, scratchboards aren't always simply associated with reproducible artwork, as the medium also appears in the fine art world.

Scratchboard Supplies

If you want to get started, or if you are looking to stock up on some fresh supplies, then this is the place to be for your scratchboard needs. We have complete scratchboard tool kits, which are great packages to start with, or ideal as gifts for someone who you know would be interested in embarking on a scratchboard adventure. But then we also have individual tools, as well as boards and inks. In the assorted ink sets you'll find the standard black ink as well as a range of colours such as carmine red, blue, green, yellow and sepia.