I’ve been sparse on blog posts lately, while busy with other art projects. After more than 40 years, I’ve returned to teaching! In the late 1970s I was a public school art teacher, covering grades K-12 during those years. When we moved to a community which didn’t need an art teacher, I learned new art skills on-the-job as a graphic artist. Now I’m teaching again… this time it’s scratchboarding!
Scratchboarding is an uncommon art form and frequently generates great curiosity and fascination. My scratchboard paintings allow me to incorporate dramatic lighting, detail, realism, and rich textures in my artwork, even in small works. I recently received an email from a stranger which echoed what many have said to me. He wrote “‘Just wanted to send you a quick note commending you on your work! Incredibly amazing! I saw your Scratchboard (Breeding Plumage) in the Knoxville airport and was immediately taken by it. Reading more about the process on how one makes a Scratchboard gave me all the more respect for it! You’re exceptionally talented and I personally found great appreciation in seeing it.“ Wow, that sure made my day.
Exhibiting my work locally and doing scratchboard demos for the art guild to which I belong prompted many to ask if I ever gave scratchboarding classes. After lots of prodding, I decided to give it a try. So I created a 2-day Beginner Scratchboard class, which I have now taught twice to groups of creative adults. I just completed another 2-day class for my beginners to advance to a higher skill level, which I called Scratchboard Fine-Tuned. Now those students want more, so we’ll see where I go from here!
I didn’t expect to have so much fun prepping and teaching the classes. I am extremely proud that many of my students have continued beyond the classes to create their own scratchboard art. Several have been accepted into juried art shows with their scratchboards, others have sold their art, lots have given their work as gifts, and many have taken on requests and commissions from people who have admired their projects. The artwork they have created is outstanding. The photo above illustrates projects I presented in class as well as scratchboards the students started from their own subjects, some in process and some completed.
There were more bonuses from my classes: I was immersed in creative energy, learned from my students, started a local community of scratchboard artists, and created lasting new friendships. Now I’ll have local competition for my scratchboard artwork too, which I welcome.
Bottom line: don’t hesitate to try something new, no matter what your age, and you may be bountifully rewarded.
