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Francis Sweet
The process of scratchboard
art
Scratchboard was a printing tool just after
the turn of the 19th century. It allowed crisp black/white reproduction
and eventually it also became a perfect print art media used
by artists creating advertisements in magazines and newspapers.
It eventually became a common known art medium used by early
wildlife artists like Walter Weber and Francis Jacques who helped
it become a popular form for artists to use or try.
However, because it is the most difficult
medium, being that no mistakes can be made while doing a piece,
it has been used by only a small group of artists. Most all scratchboard
artists today stick to smaller sizes in case mistakes are made.
I, and a few other scratchboard artists, attempt very large pieces
and for me it is because I like the danger of the " Make
No Mistakes " challenge.
To quickly describe the process
of scratchboard:
The board, at one time a cardboard base,
is now on a masonite base, easier managed in it's use. It is
a white ceramic/egg shell coating about 1/6 th of an inch that
is covered by a thin coating of black ink, usually India ink.
[ you can purchase the boards white with no inking so you can
put ink where you want to, avoiding unwanted areas of removal.
I always buy the boards entirely factory coated to avoid ink
pooling which causes flaking when you run into those areas. My
boards are always totally black to begin with and any gray to
white areas are done by me using my only tool; an X-acto knife
and a #11 blade. The pictures produced are the results of millions
of etchings/scratches that result in realistic white to black
and hundreds of shades of gray to produce the photographic results.
So, simply scratching the black away in
small to large strokes that leave white lines is the process.
Creating a negative to produce a positive piece of art. Totally
opposite of drawing with pencil or ink. Scratchboard is the most
difficult, demanding medium ever used. As an oil painter I can
make changes by repainting an area. You cannot make mistakes
with scratchboard because any re-inking can be seen easily by
the eye. The ink will now sink into the grooves caused by the
knife and stand out glaringly.
An artist using scratchboard and it's unforgiving
process, is thinking way ahead of actually putting the knife
to the board. A mistake can never be corrected, so if you want
to create a good piece of art you must plan each move ahead of
time. Just like a good game of chess!
Francis Sweet
was born in Watertown, New York, in 1938. Demonstrating an exceptional
artistic talent in his early years, he began his self initiated
training in art while still going to grade school. He began his
efforts in oil, and he still remains partial to that medium today.
He has, however, perfected the unforgiving art of scratchboard
to the level of recognition, by his peers, as the best in the
field today.
Painting in his free time, Fran developed
his technical skill and artistic vision with countless hours
of intensive study in the classic disciplines of stilllife, portraiture
and landscape. A devotion to his work has yielded a refinement
of media mastery that is a trademark seen in his oils and scratchboards
of wildlife today.
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