Scratchboard Exploration

I’m teaching a new class this year of advanced students. I’ve been planning content that includes new learning centered around technique and skill development, followed by application in the form of a theme-based project. The theme is always open to interpretation and allows students to make individualized choices about tools, techniques, and style.

For our scratchboard unit, I planned technique exploration followed by an autobiographical theme (read on for my unit slide deck).

Students interpreted this theme in a variety of ways; an eye surrounded by preferred design elements, a ribbon representing both past accomplishments and moving on from needing that validation, an abstract face surrounded by personal symbols, a closeup of a family Christmas memory, and an abstraction of a backyard playground from childhood.

Check out some student work below.

This unit worked well for introducing a variety of scratchboard tools to support individualized artmaking in each artist's personal style. As students experimented, they developed knowledge of how each tool works, enough to make informed choices about which tools to use in the project to accomplish what they envisioned.

A successful exploration teaches the skills needed for each student to make art that shows learning and personal voice.

Here is my slidedeck with demo video and instructions!