Exploring Values & Textures on Scratchboard – Workshop with Joe Smith

Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 9:30 AM-3:30 PM

Registration Deadline: July 25

$120 Members
$155 Non-Members

REGISTER HERE

This one-day workshop will provide an introduction to scratchboard materials, tools and techniques.  We will explore scratchboard mark-making methods to achieve different values and textures, using a variety of tools, and then plan and execute a scratchboard drawing.

All skill levels welcome. Space is limited.

Joe Smith is a self-taught artist with a lifelong love of drawing.  He has tried and enjoyed many different media, but, in 2010 he discovered scratchboard, and immediately fell in love.  It has been his primary drawing tool ever since. His work can be viewed at www.joeksmith.com.

Materials:

Ampersand Scratchboard, 5” x 7” (set of 3)

Speedball standard pen holder

Speedball Scratch Knives, numbers 112 (pointed) & 113 (round)

X-Acto Knife with #11 blade.

 The blade should either be retractable or it should have a protective cover.

A 12” ruler

A soft pastel pencil to draw with

Paper and pen for notes

A brush or cloth for keeping things clean

Optional: vinyl gloves to protect the scratchboard from your fingerprints.

Joe will provide a variety of additional tools and abrasive materials for you to experiment with.

These materials are available at most art supply dealers (or your local hardware store for the X-Acto knife).  I have used Dick Blick or Jerry’s Artarama.  Scratchboard Supplies are also available at Art Supplies Wholesale, 4 Enon St., N. Beverly, MA, www.allartsupplies.com.