Using A Scratch Board At The Art Institute Of Miami

By Matthew Flash


It is a terrific thing for artist to become introduced to brand new mediums. At this aspect in my career being an artist I was using a good amount of pastels because they will awarded me the appearance of an acrylic painting, but the speed of applying charcoal. I began using pastel after a figure drawing type taught by Louis Ulman in the art institute connected with Miami. The medium allowed me to explore my perception of color. Despite the excitement of color, I have always appreciated the potency of a black along with white piece.

Scratch Board in the Art Institute regarding Miami

Taking Drawing II at the Miami International College of Art also know for the reason that Art Institute connected with Miami was a motivating experience. The teacher Mona Mandall designated 5 projects most using different mediums. The 1st project was making use of scratch boards. A scratch board is basically a board which has a black finish, of which you scratch to talk about white.

I loved the concept of having a strong non colored documents image. I searched our creative mind for just a source of motivation. I was researching the Akan culture of Ghana Africa at that time. What inspired us was the image of the Okomfo, or African preist which would splash clay surfaces powder over their face and body as a means of purifying himself to connect to the spirits.

Initially I found a graphic online of a new Okomfo. I recall jumping within the wide screen iMac as well as editing the quantities in Photoshop to enhance the contrast. Mona, upon seeing my own image scolded me with the image being on the internet. She said as an artist I should ensure it is a practice to work with original photographs. I understood wherever she was received from; however, I didn't know how I'd personally get such a powerful image without being in Africa to adopt the photo.

Pondering a solution, I saw myself inside the image and immediately a lamp went off. I used this schools webcam and took a self applied portrait of myself in the same way to the image from the net. I was able to capture a useable replica.

It can be my first time employing a Scratch Board for the Art Institute associated with Miami

I spent significant amounts of work drawing the actual portrait on newspaper. I drew this once and received an abundance of criticism from both equally Mona, and Nana Sakyi, whom was a proper Okomfo and artisan. I ended upward redrawing the portrait the next time and falling crazy about an alter confidence; a mystical clergyman.

I started about the scratch board having a white charcoal pencil to supply me a go start. I moved into the actual scratching together with vigor and self-confidence. The mark making felt natural along with intuitive. I do not recall how extended it took me to create it to an amount of completion, but I'm sure I did not really stop until When i was satisfied.

My fellow friends and teachers ended up being amazed at the amount of detail I was able to attain. I managed for you to depict different textures for example the locks of his head, the clay courts on his deal with, and the linens of his item of clothing.

If it was not for the Fine art Institute, I might of never ran into the scratch board.




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