SCRATCHBOARD PROCESS
Scratchboard is a way of directly engraving an image. It is usually made up of three layers; a hard masonite board, a layer of white clay, and an even coating of black ink on top. A sharp tool is then used to scratch away the ink and reveal the white clay underneath. As the ink is scratched away to form white lines and marks, the image slowly emerges from dark to light.
Every scratchboard artist has a different preference for how they scratch and what style they are hoping to achieve. Since Kate aims for a soft and realistic effect, she uses a narrow knife to build layers of small stippling and hatching marks. Ink washes can also be used to adjust the values. For some of her commercial work, she applies color to the scratchboard through a digital process.
