Scratchboard Art

Scratch Art

Our scratch art is available in hardboard, but most of the scratch art we sell has a heavyweight paper backing. These are inexpensive and perfect for school! The board or paper is coated with a smooth, absorbent white clay ground. The ground is coated with black India ink, making it the perfect surface for scratching with a scratch knife or other scratch tools. You’ll be able to easily scrape away the ink to reveal the finish underneath, which varies from silver to gold, clear, white, and even rainbow.

Here are some steps to help you get started with scratchboard art:

Step 1: Choose Your Scratchboard
There are two types of scratchboards, white and black. White scratchboards are made with a white clay surface while black scratchboards are made with a black ink surface. Scratch boards can have different finishes beneath the surface including clear, white, and metallic colors.

Step 2: Gather Your Tools
The most important tool you will need to get started with scratchboard art is a scratcher. Scratchers are small blades or sharp tools used to scratch away the top layer of the scratchboard. You can also use a craft knife, but a scratcher will allow you to have more control and create finer details.

Step 3: Start Scratching
To get started, you will want to draw your design or image onto the scratchboard using a pencil. Once your image is drawn, you can begin scratching away the top layer of the scratchboard to reveal the finish underneath. When scratching, be sure to use light strokes and start with the larger areas first. As you get more comfortable, you can begin to add smaller details.