Scratchboard: Dynamic Black and White with Rhonda Nass
590 Water St., Prairie du Sac, WI 53578
Sat-Sun, May 15-16th, 2027 | 9am-4pm | Deadline to Register: May 10th, 2027
$265
Materials Included: Three 6″x 6″ scratchboard panels, an Xacto knife holder and blade, a black micron pen, tracing paper, transfer paper, tape, multiple handouts
Students Should Bring: Patience, graphite pencil (#2 or HB), white colored pencil, table lamp and magnifying glass if needed, cotton rag. Most importantly bring photos of your subject choice. Close-up are better than distanced perspective. The photos should be YOURS, not taken by others.
Level: Beginner/No prior experience necessary
Ages: 14+
Scratchboard is a Masonite board (usually) with China white kaolin clay applied to it, with black India ink applied atop the clay. The technique to create scratchboard works involves the artist using a sharp object (Xacto knife often) to remove in varying layers a small portion of the black ink with one layer removed, creating a charcoal value, all the way to all black ink removed through multiple layers scratched, creating white value. We will dive into the world of scratchboard by viewing a large group of contemporary scratchboard artists, then with materials provided, practice scratching ourselves, gaining skills to remove small amounts of ink creating a full range of gray values, and move on to doing a scratchboard practical exercise producing an image of a cherry. The last day students will confidently begin and work on a scratchboard of their own chosen subject, 6″ x 6″.
Artist Bio: Probably all of us can pinpoint moments in our lives which caused an abrupt change of direction, leading us on a distinct future course. My first high school art class was such a moment. From the minute I drew my first portrait of a classmate, I was hooked on the limitless possibilities of communicating through art. It was in that class that my teacher proclaimed, “You could never be an artist.” Being the stubborn teenager that I was, that was all I needed to catapult me into the field of art. I received an art education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, married a fellow student the next day and shortly thereafter birthed our illustration studio, Ampersand, and began our lives as professional artists. We continue to operate Ampersand from our home/studio along the Wisconsin River in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.
Artists most influential in developing my style are Caravaggio, Wayne Thiebaud, Robert Bateman and Rick Nass. I regard contrasts (light, texture, color, space, temperature, etc.) as one of the most effective visual communication tools, so one can recognize my work generally by such contrasts.
I’ll always be amazed that one can make a living doing what one loves, and can, in the process, keep stretching and passing discoveries on to others. It’s a gift for which I’ll continuously thank God.
Sample work from instructor Rhonda Nass:
In the event a workshop is canceled due to low enrollment, you will be contacted immediately and refunded entirely. Please review our cancellation policy here.
