This is a very specialized art form that is not widely practiced by many artists. Because the term “scratchboard” can be a bit vague, it’s important to know exactly what materials are used to create scratchboard art.
There are a few different types of scratchboard art, such as black and white, color gradients, and watercolor. Each type of scratchboard art has its own set of materials and techniques.
Here are the best scratchboard art materials to help you get started.
Our Editor’s Best Scratchboard Art Materials Reviews
- MUSEUM-QUALITY SCRATCHBORD: Acid-free kaolin clay ground with India ink on warp-resistant Hardbord. Ultra-smooth, highly absorbent, scratch art surface
- PROFESSIONALS’ TOP CHOICE: Easier to scratch into for clean, crisp, details and lines. Scratch marks are repairable by reapplying India ink. Add vibrant color to your Scratchbord art with inks
- HIGH-DENSITY HARDBOARD CORE: Will not tear, bend or buckle. Ampersand’s premium, warp-resistant, FSC-Certified Hardbord will ensure your artwork is supported
- FRAME WITHOUT GLASS: Seal and display your scratchboard artwork without glass
- MADE IN THE USA: Unparalleled quality and craftsmanship has made Ampersand Art Supply the leader in painting panels for over 25 years
- Luminous Effect Scratchboard ： This scratch art paper with premium quality, ensures every scratch reveals a clear and vivid image, maintaining the integrity of the artwork. Simple scratches are all that is needed to reveal, no paint is required, unlike traditional paintings that tend to stain clothes. Unique glow-in-the-dark design, you can also see the beautiful and extraordinary artwork at night!
- Portable entertainment: Lightweight and compact, these scratch boards are perfect for travel. Keep yourself or your kids entertained on long trips, rainy days, or quiet evenings at home
- Create stunning wall art: Turn your scratch art into beautiful home decor. Frame your finished pieces for unique, personalized wall hangings that showcase your artistic flair and travel memories
- Preserve travel memories creatively: Recreate favorite city scenes from your adventures. A unique way to commemorate special trips and relive cherished moments, more personal than photos
- MOVE YOUR TIP AND RELAX：Each Scratchboard has a foil sketch on it, use the scratch tools (included) to scratch off the gray sketch to reveal the beautiful colors underneath. A complete sculpting art set for artists of all ages. When you are stressed, angry or upset, try the stress release scratch art, the best way to whip boredom or release stress.
- [SCRATCH ART RAINBOW]: Scratch Art products feature bright colors and patterns hidden beneath a matte coating, Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath
- [LEISURE TIME EDUCATION] Amazing creative artwork, signs, and more! Makes an excellent arts and crafts activity for kids or grown-up artists, keep busy with this delightful craft supply
- [PACKAGE INCLUDING]: 4 x Sheets Scratch Cards, 1 x Scratch Pen, 1x Clean Brush, 1 x Wood Stylus Stick - 11.6 x 8.3 inch(A4)
- [PERFECT GIFT FOR KIDS' SKETCHES (AND ADULTS) ]: Complete engraving art set for any age artist; the size is excellent for kids and can be easily carried around say for a girls trip or your next trip to the grocery store
- [HOME DECORATION&CREATIVE GIFTS]: You Can Mount It with A Picture Frame Hung Up on The Wall or Put on Your Desk Top increase The Artistic Atmosphere and Decorate Your House, Also You can display the stunning final art or give them as gifts to friends or family
- 【PACKAGE INCLUDING】: 8 x Scratch Drawing Board, 1 x Scratch Pen, 1 x Clean Brush, 2 x Wood Stylus Stick - 11.6 x 8.3 inch(A4)
- 【SCRATCH ART RAINBOW】: Scratch Art products feature bright colors and patterns hidden beneath a matte coating, Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath.
- 【LEISURE TIME EDUCATION】 Amazing creative artwork, signs, and more! Makes an excellent arts and crafts activity for kids or grown-up artists, keep busy with this delightful craft supply.
- 【PERFECT GIFT FOR KIDS' SKETCHES (AND ADULTS) 】: Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for kids and can be easily carried around say for a girls trip or your next trip to the grocery store.
- 【HOME DECORATION&CREATIVE GIFTS】: You Can Mount It with A Picture Frame Hung Up on The Wall or Put on Your Desk Top increase The Artistic Atmosphere and Decorate Your House, Also You can display the stunning final art or give them as gifts to friends or family.
- Scratch Paper Art Set for Kids: You will receive 50 sheets of black scratch art paper, 15 wooden styluses, 4 different painting stencils, 1 cleaning brush and 1 plastic scratching pen. You can enjoy the fun of creating
- Easy to Use: Just use wooden styluses or plastic scratching pens to draw your favorite patterns and lines on the scratchboard. You will get stylish and modern black and white paintings
- A Healthy, Clean Way of Painting: No need to worry about your child's clothes and hands getting dirty with pencils or crayons while drawing. Our black scratch art paper will not leave marks on your hands, and the included cleaning brush can easily clean up the debris, very convenient
- Multiple Uses: Use your creativity to make more beautiful works. You can even cut and fold black scratch paper into the shape you like and make greeting cards, envelopes, gift cards, decorations and more
- Creative Gift: Both children and adults can't resist the pleasure of writing and drawing on paper, right? Give ZOCONE Scratch Paper Art Set to your children and friends, so they can enjoy the fun of hands-on, unlimited imagination and creativity
- 【PACKAGE INCLUDING】: 8 x Scratch Drawing Board, 1 x Scratch Pen, 1 x Red Scraper, 1 x Clean Brush, 1 x Repair Fluid, 2 x Wood Stylus Stick, 1 x Tool Bag. - 11.6 x 8.3 inch(A4)
- 【LEISURE TIME EDUCATION】 Amazing creative artwork, signs, and more! Makes an excellent arts and crafts activity for teens or grown-up artists, keep busy with this delightful craft supply.
- 【SCRATCH ART RAINBOW】: Scratch Art products feature bright colors and patterns hidden beneath a matte coating, Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath.
- 【PERFECT GIFT FOR TEENS SKETCHES (AND ADULTS) 】: Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for teens and can be easily carried around say for a girls trip or your next trip to the grocery store.
- 【HOME DECORATION&CREATIVE GIFTS】: You Can Mount It with A Picture Frame Hung Up on The Wall or Put on Your Desk Top increase The Artistic Atmosphere and Decorate Your House, Also You can display the stunning final art or give them as gifts to friends or family.
- 【PACKAGE INCLUDING】: 8 x Scratch Drawing Board, 1 x Scratch Pen, 1 x Red Scraper, 1 x Clean Brush, 1 x Repair Fluid, 2 x Wood Stylus Stick, 1 x Tool Bag. - 11.6 x 8.3 inch(A4)
- 【SCRATCH ART RAINBOW】: Scratch Art products feature bright colors and patterns hidden beneath a matte coating, Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath
- 【LEISURE TIME EDUCATION】 Amazing creative artwork, signs, and more! Makes an excellent arts and crafts activity for teens or grown-up artists, keep busy with this delightful craft supply
- 【PERFECT GIFT FOR TEENS SKETCHES (AND ADULTS) 】: Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for teens and can be easily carried around say for a girls trip or your next trip to the grocery store
- 【HOME DECORATION&CREATIVE GIFTS】: You Can Mount It with A Picture Frame Hung Up on The Wall or Put on Your Desk Top increase The Artistic Atmosphere and Decorate Your House, Also You can display the stunning final art or give them as gifts to friends or family
- A4 size is more practical: 11inch*8.2inch (28*20.8cm) size, more than the general 7.2 x 5 inch in the market, more practical, 50 sheets of A4 size rainbow art paper, can be cut at will, more cost-effective;
- Holographic rainbow art scratch paper: Different from the general rainbow scratch paper on the market, we have both regular scratch paper and laser scratch paper to choose from. Rainbow laser scratch paper has flash and laser effects, thicker and more textured paper, more interesting and fun;
- Carve out different colors: Scratch Paper is widely compatible with laser engraving machines and laser marking machines, giving your engraving patterns colorful colors. It is recommended that the laser engraving machine parameters (4500-5000 speed, 10%-15% power), you can also cut into different shapes, such as animals, colored eggs, spiders, witch hats, etc., and engrave patterns on the cut shapes;
- Exert artistic creativity and imagination: Each piece of scratch arts drawing paper is large and durable enough to carry out detailed and expressive painting. You can use the attached stylus to scratch and write, or use the engraving machine software pattern to create imaginatively;
- Best craft gift: Scratch arts painting paper is a great gift for anyone.Fun and cool creative craft gifts for birthdays, party favors, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Father's Day, Mother's Day, and outdoor trips, etc.;
- [SCRATCH ART RAINBOW]: Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath, and use a small brush to clean the scraped black powder in time.
- [PACKAGE INCLUDING]: 2 x Scratch Pen, 1x Clean Brush, 3 x Wood Stylus Stick, 12 x Sheets Scratch Cards - 7.9 x 5.5 inch
- [SCRATCH ART THERAPY]: You're more likely to work well if you take a short break for mindless work everyday. This scratch off painting is exactly what you are looking for, easy, time-wasting and stress-free.
- [PERFECT GIFT FOR KIDS 'SKETCHES (AND ADULTS)]: Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for kids and can be easily carried around say for a car trip or your next trip to the grocery store.
- [HOME DECORATION & CREATIVE GIFTS]: You can make your own unique postcard or frame as an ornament. You can write down what you want to express on the back. A unique and surprise gift for the people you care. Or When you arrive in a city , send a hand-painted postcard to your friends, which is a special memory for you and your friends.
- [SCRATCH ART RAINBOW]: Each Scratch Cards features a foil layer of sketches, Use scratch pen (included) to scratch off gray colored sketches, Revealing a beautiful colors underneath, and use a small brush to clean the scraped black powder in time.
- [PACKAGE INCLUDING]: 2 x Scratch Pen, 1x Clean Brush, 3 x Wood Stylus Stick, 12 x Sheets Scratch Cards (Tower Bridge / Leaning Tower of Pisa / St.Paul's Cathedral / Statue of Liberty / Statue of LibertyColosseum / Pyramid / Castle / Oriental Pearl Tower / Tokyo Tower / Empire State Building / Eiffel tower / Las Vegas)
- [SCRATCH ART THERAPY]: You're more likely to work well if you take a short break for mindless work everyday. This scratch off painting is exactly what you are looking for, easy, time-wasting and stress-free.
- [PERFECT GIFT FOR KIDS 'SKETCHES (AND ADULTS)]: Complete engraving art set for any age artist. The size is excellent for kids and can be easily carried around say for a car trip or your next trip to the grocery store.
- [HOME DECORATION & CREATIVE GIFTS]: You can make your own unique postcard or frame as an ornament. You can write down what you want to express on the back. A unique and surprise gift for the people you care. Or When you arrive in a city , send a hand-painted postcard to your friends, which is a special memory for you and your friends.
Best Scratchboard Art Materials Buying Guide
Before choosing the best scratch board art materials you should consider following options:
1. Ink: The ink you use will depend on what you want to do with your scratchboard. Ink can be water-based or oil-based.
If you want to create an image that can be photographed or scanned and then colored in with computer software, then you should use water-based ink.
If you want to create an image that is purely black and white, then you should use oil-based ink. You can also use a combination of ink types.
2. Inkpad: You will need an inkpad to hold your ink. Inkpads come in a range of sizes and materials. Some have a ridged bottom, which helps the ink from soaking into the board.
If you are using water-based ink, it is probably best to have a smooth bottom for the inkpad so that the ink doesn’t soak in too much.
If you are using oil-based ink, you should have a ridged bottom so that the ink doesn’t spread too far.
3. Inkbrush: You will need an inkbrush to apply ink to the board. There are different types of inkbrushes available.
You can choose a brush that has synthetic bristles, which is good for applying water-based ink, or you can choose a brush that has hog bristle, which is good for applying oil-based ink.
4. Ink Eraser: An ink eraser is needed to remove ink from your board. An eraser that is too hard will damage your board, and an eraser that is too soft will not remove the ink.
It is best to test the eraser before you buy it to make sure it is the right type for you.
5. Masking Tape: Masking tape is used to mask off areas of the board before you ink it. You can also use it to lift the ink off the board once it is dry.
6. Fixative: Fixative is used to seal the ink into the board. You can use fixative as you ink your board, or you can use it after the board is dry.
Fixative can be water-based or oil-based.
What else you should know about scratchboard art materials
1. What is a scratchboard?
A scratchboard is a board coated with a layer of wax or clay that can be scratched to create a design.
2. What are the different types of scratchboards?
There are several different types of scratchboards, but the most common are the black and white scratchboard, the colored scratchboard, and the metal scratchboard.
3. What are the best scratchboard art materials?
The best scratchboard art materials are the ones that suit your needs and preferences. Some people prefer to use traditional scratchboards made from wood, while others prefer to use modern materials such as plastic or metal. There is no right or wrong answer, so it really depends on what you want to achieve with your artwork.
4. How do I use a scratchboard?
To use a scratchboard, you will need a sharp object like a pen or a pencil. You will also need some sort of abrasive material like sandpaper.
First, you will want to sketch out your design on the scratchboard. Once you have your sketch, you will want to start scratching away at the board with your sharp object. Be sure to use light pressure at first so you don’t damage the board. As you scratch away, the abrasive material will start to remove the top layer of the board, revealing the layer beneath. You can continue to scratch away until you have the desired effect.
5. What are some scratchboard techniques?
Some scratchboard techniques are hatching, stippling, cross hatching, and scumbling.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best scratchboard art materials. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best scratchboard art materials will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.