scratchboard
Ink-coated etching surface
Scratchboard is a drawing technique and the medium used for it, consisting of a board coated with white clay and covered with black ink.
Artists scratch through the dark surface with sharp tools to reveal the white beneath, creating images through negative space rather than by adding marks.
The technique produces distinctive high-contrast illustrations with fine white lines against black, commonly seen in editorial illustrations and book engravings.
The naturalist's field guide featured detailed scratchboard illustrations of birds.
Carving into hard surfaces
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
- incisingCutting into material
- scoringEarning points in competition
- crosshatchingIntersecting parallel lines for tone
stippling · carving · sgraffito · drypoint · intaglio · scraping · hatching · highlighting
Pointed implement for marking
- scraperTool for removing buildup
- knifeSharp cutting utensil
- burinPointed engraving implement
- nibPen's writing tip
gouge · needle · blade · steel wool · sandpaper · burnisher · X-Acto
Without color gradations
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- positiveAffirming or certain
- highlightMost notable part
- shadowLight blocked by object
silhouette · monochrome · tone · gradation · light · dark · value · reversal
Whiteite mineral for pottery
Images depicting wild creatures
- nature illustrationImage of wildlife or plants
- portraitureArt of depicting people
- book illustrationImage in published volume
- editorialPublication's official viewpoint article
scientific illustration · botanical · zoological · fantasy art · graphic novel · commercial art · fine art · realism
engraving
Carving into hard surfaces
crosshatching · stippling · carving · sgraffito · drypoint · intaglio · scraping · hatching · highlighting · revealing
stylus
Pointed implement for marking
nib · gouge · needle · blade · steel wool · sandpaper · burnisher · X-Acto
black-and-white
Without color gradations
shadow · silhouette · monochrome · tone · gradation · light · dark · value · reversal · chiaroscuro
kaolin
Whiteite mineral for pottery
wildlife art
Images depicting wild creatures
- nature illustrationImage of wildlife or plants
- portraitureArt of depicting people
- book illustrationImage in published volume
editorial · scientific illustration · botanical · zoological · fantasy art · graphic novel · commercial art · fine art · realism · hyperrealism
- graphic artsgraphic design, sketch, illustration, print, typography
- art techniquespainting, drawing, sketching, shading, blending
- art surfacesstretched canvas, watercolor paper, cotton canvas, wood panel, hardboard
- illustration stylesilluminated manuscripts, woodcuts, engravings, etchings, lithography
- printmaking materialscopper plate, steel plate, wood block, linoleum, lino
- picture bookspicture book, picture books, illustrations, storybook, storybook art
scratchboardpainting
Pigment on canvas
oil painting · impasto · watercolor · gouache · encaustic