This is a very specialized art form that is not widely practiced by many artists. Because the term “scratchboard” can be a bit vague, it’s important to know exactly what materials are used to create scratchboard art.
There are a few different types of scratchboard art, such as black and white, color gradients, and watercolor. Each type of scratchboard art has its own set of materials and techniques.
Here are the best scratchboard art materials to help you get started.
Our Editor’s Best Scratchboard Art Materials Reviews
- MUSEUM-QUALITY SCRATCHBORD: Acid-free kaolin clay ground with India ink on warp-resistant Hardbord. Ultra-smooth, highly absorbent, scratch art surface
- PROFESSIONALS’ TOP CHOICE: Easier to scratch into for clean, crisp, details and lines. Scratch marks are repairable by reapplying India ink. Add vibrant color to your Scratchbord art with inks
- HIGH-DENSITY HARDBOARD CORE: Will not tear, bend or buckle. Ampersand’s premium, warp-resistant, FSC-Certified Hardbord will ensure your artwork is supported
- FRAME WITHOUT GLASS: Seal and display your scratchboard artwork without glass
- MADE IN THE USA: Unparalleled quality and craftsmanship has made Ampersand Art Supply the leader in painting panels for over 25 years
- UNIQUE ART EXPERIENCE: After being charged with Flashlight or other bright light sources, the scratch art paper glows in the dark. To reveal the hidden colorful luminous designs, simply use the included stylus to lightly scratch off the printed lines. This process adds an element of magic and discovery, captivating curious young minds. Introduce your kids to a world of creativity and magic with our glow-in-the-dark scratch art paper. This unique art medium offers an exciting twist on traditional scratch art, providing hours of fun and engaging activities for young artists
- PACKAGE INCLUDING: 8 x GLOWS IN THE DARK Scratch Drawing Board(Butterfly/Dolphin), 3 x Scratch Pen, 1 x Clean Brush - A4 size. Great for developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and artistic expression, making it an ideal learning tool for home and classroom use
- LEISURE TIME EDUCATION: Makes an excellent arts and crafts activity for teens or grown-up artists, keep busy with this delightful craft supply. Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for kids and can be easily carried around say for a girls trip or your next trip to the grocery store. No odd flavor, No toxic powder, So kids can take their time to play and prepare for their masterpieces, Enjoy scratch art
- HOME DECORATION&CREATIVE GIFTS: You Can Mount It with A Picture Frame Hung Up on The Wall or Put on Your Desk Top increase The Artistic Atmosphere and Decorate Your House, Also You can display the stunning final art or give them as gifts to friends or family
- SCRATCH ART THERAPY: You're more likely to work well if you take a short break for mindless work everyday. This scratch off painting is exactly what you are looking for, easy, time-wasting and stress-free. Ideal for rainy days, birthday parties, or any time kids need a creative outlet
- 【PACKAGE INCLUDING】: 8 x Sheets Scratch Cards, 1 x Scratch Pen, 1 x Red Scraper, 1 x Clean Brush, 1 x Repair Fluid, 2 x Wood Stylus Stick, 1 x Tool bag. - 11.6 x 8.3 inch(A4)
- 【SCRATCH ART THERAPY】 You're more likely to work well if you take a short break for mindless work everyday. This scratch off painting is exactly what you are looking for, easy, time-wasting and stress-free.
- 【SCRATCH ART RAINBOW】: Scratch Art products feature bright colors and patterns hidden beneath a matte coating, Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath.
- 【PERFECT GIFT FOR KIDS' SKETCHES (AND ADULTS) 】: Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for kids and can be easily carried around say for a girls trip or your next trip to the grocery store.
- 【HOME DECORATION&CREATIVE GIFTS】: You Can Mount It with A Picture Frame Hung Up on The Wall or Put on Your Desk Top increase The Artistic Atmosphere and Decorate Your House, Also You can display the stunning final art or give them as gifts to friends or family.
- for kindergarten and primary use
- Scratch pen and stick are designed for the easy scratch-off
- With fine polishing, it is safe to use
- Can help develop kidss imagination and potentiality
- Made of with fine workmanship, to scratch
- 【PACKAGE INCLUDING】: 8 x Scratch Drawing Board, 1 x Scratch Pen, 1 x Red Scraper, 1 x Clean Brush, 1 x Repair Fluid, 2 x Wood Stylus Stick, 1 x Tool Bag. - 11.6 x 8.3 inch(A4)
- 【SCRATCH ART RAINBOW】: Scratch Art products feature bright colors and patterns hidden beneath a matte coating, Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath.
- 【LEISURE TIME EDUCATION】 Amazing creative artwork, signs, and more! Makes an excellent arts and crafts activity for teens or grown-up artists, keep busy with this delightful craft supply.
- 【PERFECT GIFT FOR TEENS SKETCHES (AND ADULTS) 】: Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for teens and can be easily carried around say for a girls trip or your next trip to the grocery store.
- 【HOME DECORATION&CREATIVE GIFTS】: You Can Mount It with A Picture Frame Hung Up on The Wall or Put on Your Desk Top increase The Artistic Atmosphere and Decorate Your House, Also You can display the stunning final art or give them as gifts to friends or family.
- Comprehensive Set:Included in this package are 100 pieces of scratchboard, scratch sticks, and templates. This thoughtfully curated set is designed to cater to all your daily crafting and DIY activities. Plus, it has enough supplies for you to enjoy creative fun with friends and family
- Size:The black scratch paper measures approximately 3.3x3.3 inches and the templates are the same size. The wooden stick has a diameter of 1.97 inches and a length of 3.9 inches. These dimensions are ideal for portability, allowing you to easily take them along in your backpack and create art anywhere, anytime
- Safe Materials:Crafted from 78% wood fiber paper, 20% acrylic, 1% PET, and 1% beech wood, our scratch papers and wooden stylus are free from unpleasant odors, ensuring they are safe and reliable for all users
- Versatile Usage:These scratch papers and tools are good for adding an element of fun to various DIY craft projects. They are suitable for family fun days, making notes and cards, sketching, painting, tracing, and much more, adding endless creative possibilities to your activities
- User-Friendly and Effortless:The scratch art set is incredibly easy to use. There is no need for any painting or additional materials. Simply use the scratch sticks to scratch away the black coating to reveal vivid colors underneath, allowing you to create stunning and colorful artworks with just a few strokes
- [PACKAGE INCLUDING]: 2 x Scratch Pen, 1x Clean Brush, 3 x Wood Stylus Stick, 12 x Sheets Scratch Cards (Tower Bridge / Leaning Tower of Pisa / St.Paul's Cathedral / Statue of Liberty / Statue of LibertyColosseum / Pyramid / Castle / Oriental Pearl Tower / Tokyo Tower / Empire State Building / Eiffel tower / Las Vegas)
- [ SCRATCH ART RAINBOW ] : Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath, and use a small brush to clean the scraped black powder in time.
- [ SCRATCH ART THERAPY ] : You're more likely to work well if you take a short break for mindless work everyday. This scratch off painting is exactly what you are looking for, easy, time-wasting and stress-free.
- [ PERFECT GIFT FOR KIDS' SKETCHES (AND ADULTS) ] : Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for kids and can be easily carried around say for a girls trip or your next trip to the grocery store.
- [ HOME DECORATION&CREATIVE GIFTS ] : You can make your own unique postcard or frame as an ornament. You can write down what you want to express on the back. A unique and surprise gift for the people you care.
- 5 PIECE SET: Includes 1 each Line Tool, Scratch Knife (2 Nibs), Wire Brush, Fibre Brush, Piece of Steel Wool and Sample Piece of Claybord
- CREATE UNIQUE DETAILS: Use these tools to scratch away the surface coating exposing the white clay underneath
- PERFECT FOR DIY ART DESIGN: This complete kit is ideal for artists and hobbyists of all ages
- EASY TO USE: Create a variety of linework and textures using hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling on Claybord or Scratchbord
- ADD DEPTH & TEXTURE TO YOUR ART: Tools are available individually or in a 5-piece set
- Capture pictures in a safe and night, charming and dreamy
- Beautiful vivid and realistic night scene
- The white paper on the outside can meet your DIY needs. You can make your unique postcards and frames as decorations
- Provide children with fun and safe graffiti ways to learn how to write and draw for children
- You can give your work as a beautiful to your friends, or as a decoration in your room
- 【PACKAGE INCLUDING】: 4 x Scratch (Drawing BoardCafe Terrace at Night - Sunflowers - Starry Night Over the Rhone - The Starry Night), 2 x Scratch Pen, 1 x Clean Brush - 16 x 11.2 inch
- 【SCRATCH ART RAINBOW】: Scratch Art products feature bright colors and patterns hidden beneath a matte coating, Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath.
- 【PERFECT GIFT FOR KIDS' SKETCHES (AND ADULTS) 】: Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for kids and can be easily carried around say for a girls trip or your next trip to the grocery store. No odd flavor, No toxic powder, So kids can take their time to play and prepare for their masterpieces, Enjoy scratch art.
- 【HOME DECORATION&CREATIVE GIFTS】: You Can Mount It with A Picture Frame Hung Up on The Wall or Put on Your Desk Top increase The Artistic Atmosphere and Decorate Your House, Also You can display the stunning final art or give them as gifts to friends or family.
- 【SCRATCH ART THERAPY】 You're more likely to work well if you take a short break for mindless work everyday. This scratch off painting is exactly what you are looking for, easy, time-wasting and stress-free.
Best Scratchboard Art Materials Buying Guide
Before choosing the best scratch board art materials you should consider following options:
1. Ink: The ink you use will depend on what you want to do with your scratchboard. Ink can be water-based or oil-based.
If you want to create an image that can be photographed or scanned and then colored in with computer software, then you should use water-based ink.
If you want to create an image that is purely black and white, then you should use oil-based ink. You can also use a combination of ink types.
2. Inkpad: You will need an inkpad to hold your ink. Inkpads come in a range of sizes and materials. Some have a ridged bottom, which helps the ink from soaking into the board.
If you are using water-based ink, it is probably best to have a smooth bottom for the inkpad so that the ink doesn’t soak in too much.
If you are using oil-based ink, you should have a ridged bottom so that the ink doesn’t spread too far.
3. Inkbrush: You will need an inkbrush to apply ink to the board. There are different types of inkbrushes available.
You can choose a brush that has synthetic bristles, which is good for applying water-based ink, or you can choose a brush that has hog bristle, which is good for applying oil-based ink.
4. Ink Eraser: An ink eraser is needed to remove ink from your board. An eraser that is too hard will damage your board, and an eraser that is too soft will not remove the ink.
It is best to test the eraser before you buy it to make sure it is the right type for you.
5. Masking Tape: Masking tape is used to mask off areas of the board before you ink it. You can also use it to lift the ink off the board once it is dry.
6. Fixative: Fixative is used to seal the ink into the board. You can use fixative as you ink your board, or you can use it after the board is dry.
Fixative can be water-based or oil-based.
What else you should know about scratchboard art materials
1. What is a scratchboard?
A scratchboard is a board coated with a layer of wax or clay that can be scratched to create a design.
2. What are the different types of scratchboards?
There are several different types of scratchboards, but the most common are the black and white scratchboard, the colored scratchboard, and the metal scratchboard.
3. What are the best scratchboard art materials?
The best scratchboard art materials are the ones that suit your needs and preferences. Some people prefer to use traditional scratchboards made from wood, while others prefer to use modern materials such as plastic or metal. There is no right or wrong answer, so it really depends on what you want to achieve with your artwork.
4. How do I use a scratchboard?
To use a scratchboard, you will need a sharp object like a pen or a pencil. You will also need some sort of abrasive material like sandpaper.
First, you will want to sketch out your design on the scratchboard. Once you have your sketch, you will want to start scratching away at the board with your sharp object. Be sure to use light pressure at first so you don’t damage the board. As you scratch away, the abrasive material will start to remove the top layer of the board, revealing the layer beneath. You can continue to scratch away until you have the desired effect.
5. What are some scratchboard techniques?
Some scratchboard techniques are hatching, stippling, cross hatching, and scumbling.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best scratchboard art materials. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best scratchboard art materials will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.