There were beautiful dogwood trees in flower in Toronto over the past few weeks. I love the shape of the petals and included them in a scratchboard drawing I made recently.
Although I’ve made several scratchboard drawings, I’m just learning about the medium. I’m not someone who usually takes courses in a new medium ahead of time. So I’m doing what I usually do. That is, I generally jump in and learn as I go. I could probably save myself a lot of trouble, but…
What I discovered as I created Dogwood is that, depending on the depth of the marks I made, traces of them remained visible in the finished piece. I was actually making a shallow relief image in places. The link to carving linoleum and wood returns!
In Dogwood, I originally had images of eyes on each petal that I decided to remove as I worked. Yet, they remain as traces of white on white with slight shadows from different angles. Perhaps I can use this property deliberately in the future and make the ghosts of earlier images stand out in a more defined way. Also, I am reminded to first make very light marks as I develop an image. I often only have a rough idea of the design I want to create. I prefer to develop it as I work which keeps the process more interesting and challenging for me.
by Lily S. May, 2021
Arts of May 
quite a striking design – lovely.
Thank you! I’m very glad you like the piece.
I just love these scratchboards…I am going to have to try it in the fall. I am intrigued to try making my own scratchboard, with possible background variation (shades of white/sepia?). Thanks for the inspiration.
Your idea to make your own scratchboard sounds great. I’m glad my work inspired you.
I told you before, you are a born carver! By the way, I love your new icon.
Merci beaucoup, Francois, for your kind words about my being a born carver! And, I’m enjoying my new icon too. It’s from a relief print from 2019.