Drawing technique "Scratch"

“Scratching” is an unusual drawing technique. Not even drawing, but scratching elements of the drawing. As a rule, “drawing” is done in black and white, but you can also experiment with the color of the picture or background!

To make a drawing using the grattage technique you will need:
White cardboard,
Oil pastel white,
Black gouache,
Wide brush
Liquid soap,
Carbon paper,
Pencil,
Pointed skewer.

So, using white oil pastels, cover a sheet of cardboard with a thick layer of wax. You can replace oil pastels with wax crayons or a candle. I tried using glossy and matte cardboard. I liked the result better on the glossy one.




We mix black gouache with a small amount of liquid soap, since you actually have to paint on the wax layer. Soap can be replaced with dishwashing detergent, shower gel or shampoo. Only one drop is required. Water is only needed to wet the brush before starting work.

We cover the cardboard with a layer of gouache so that there are no gaps. If you added soap, they shouldn't be there.



Make sure that the paint layer is distributed evenly.Gouache undiluted with water dries quickly.



We continue to work only with completely dry cardboard. We transfer a suitable drawing onto a dark background using carbon paper, or simply draw with a non-sharp pencil over dried gouache. Neither in the first nor in the second case should you put too much pressure on the pencil, otherwise scratching will begin already at the drawing stage.



When the drawing is applied, use a sharp skewer (can be replaced with a toothpick) to scratch the lines down to the white cardboard. There are many scratching techniques: strokes, cleaned pieces... I used the simplest option - scratching lines.