Scratchboard: Pushing the Power of Black and White | Rhonda Nass | Fri-Sat, Oct 10-11 | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Adult | Drawing | All Levels
Members: $275 | Non-Members: $300
Course ID: 2D2538
*This workshop must meet a minimum number of students by September 4, 2025.
Concept
Scratchboard is a subtractive process. Rather than adding a medium, such as pencil, watercolor, or oil to a surface, the artist removes from the surface to produce the work. The manufactured base Masonite board used has white kaolin clay atop it, hen black India ink atop the clay. Using a sharp instrument, usually an x-acto knife blade, you scratch away the ink with varying degrees of pressure and varying number of strokes to remove varying amounts of black ink; creating the full range of values from black to white. The more one scratches, the lighter the value.
Experience
This workshop open broadly by viewing contemporary scratchboard artists, then moves into a bit of play getting used to scratching the prepared surface with various tools. Create a value match tool to help match the blacks, grays, and whites of any black and white photo references you may use in the future; eliminating the guesswork of how much black ink to scratch away. A small image is provided to help you practice and refine skills before you begin a final work using your photo reference and composition - a work completed outside the workshop hours. Any student who has taken a colored pencil workshop with Rhonda will have a jumpstart on the technique used to scratch - the same airplane stroke - but all will catch on quickly! Rhonda provides demonstrations and personal feedback throughout the workshop.
Skill Level
All levels welcome.
Adult | Drawing | All Levels
Members: $275 | Non-Members: $300
Course ID: 2D2538
*This workshop must meet a minimum number of students by September 4, 2025.
Concept
Scratchboard is a subtractive process. Rather than adding a medium, such as pencil, watercolor, or oil to a surface, the artist removes from the surface to produce the work. The manufactured base Masonite board used has white kaolin clay atop it, hen black India ink atop the clay. Using a sharp instrument, usually an x-acto knife blade, you scratch away the ink with varying degrees of pressure and varying number of strokes to remove varying amounts of black ink; creating the full range of values from black to white. The more one scratches, the lighter the value.
Experience
This workshop open broadly by viewing contemporary scratchboard artists, then moves into a bit of play getting used to scratching the prepared surface with various tools. Create a value match tool to help match the blacks, grays, and whites of any black and white photo references you may use in the future; eliminating the guesswork of how much black ink to scratch away. A small image is provided to help you practice and refine skills before you begin a final work using your photo reference and composition - a work completed outside the workshop hours. Any student who has taken a colored pencil workshop with Rhonda will have a jumpstart on the technique used to scratch - the same airplane stroke - but all will catch on quickly! Rhonda provides demonstrations and personal feedback throughout the workshop.
Skill Level
All levels welcome.
Adult | Drawing | All Levels
Members: $275 | Non-Members: $300
Course ID: 2D2538
*This workshop must meet a minimum number of students by September 4, 2025.
Concept
Scratchboard is a subtractive process. Rather than adding a medium, such as pencil, watercolor, or oil to a surface, the artist removes from the surface to produce the work. The manufactured base Masonite board used has white kaolin clay atop it, hen black India ink atop the clay. Using a sharp instrument, usually an x-acto knife blade, you scratch away the ink with varying degrees of pressure and varying number of strokes to remove varying amounts of black ink; creating the full range of values from black to white. The more one scratches, the lighter the value.
Experience
This workshop open broadly by viewing contemporary scratchboard artists, then moves into a bit of play getting used to scratching the prepared surface with various tools. Create a value match tool to help match the blacks, grays, and whites of any black and white photo references you may use in the future; eliminating the guesswork of how much black ink to scratch away. A small image is provided to help you practice and refine skills before you begin a final work using your photo reference and composition - a work completed outside the workshop hours. Any student who has taken a colored pencil workshop with Rhonda will have a jumpstart on the technique used to scratch - the same airplane stroke - but all will catch on quickly! Rhonda provides demonstrations and personal feedback throughout the workshop.
Skill Level
All levels welcome.
INSTRUCTOR
In her first high school art class, Rhonda Nass’ instructor told her, “You could never be an artist.” Fortunately, she was a stubborn teenager who was only motivated by his words. Rhonda’s teaching philosophy is quite different – to open students' minds to new techniques, styles, artists, and more to better equip them to succeed on their own. Rhonda earned a degree in Art Education from UW-Madison. She and her husband, Rick, collaboratively operate Ampersand, an illustration studio in Prairie du Sac.
