Scratchboard for Illustration

A longtime favorite technique of artists and illustrators, scratchboard is a unique example of "addition by subtraction." Unlike most traditional drawing techniques, where the artist adds outlines, tones, and shadows, the scratchboard artist scrapes away the black ink to reveal the white surface underneath.

Scratchboard is currently enjoying something of a renaissance thanks to its popularity in graphic novels, comics, advertisements, and other fine art forms.
Legendary scratchboard artist and lecturer Ruth Lozner presents an in-depth look at this fascinating art form. Starting with the basics of scratchboard technique, Lozner discusses combinations of scratchboard with other media, and opens up this traditionally black-and-white medium to a whole new world of color.

Packed with illustrations by well-known and highly regarded scratchboard artists, Scratchboard for Illustration shows the remarkable range of this offbeat artistic technique.

Renowned artist Ruth Lozner presents the ultimate guide to an artistic technique that is currently enjoying a revival thanks to a new generation of comic book artists and illustrators. Scratchboard for Illustration combines history, technique, and illustrated examples to open a whole new world of artistic expression to the reader.
Ruth Lozner received a BFA from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA and an MFA from American University, Washington, DC. Currently she holds the title of Professor Emerita of Art and Design from the University of Maryland, College Park. She previously held faculty positions at the Parsons School of Design and the University of the Arts, where she was Chair of the Illustration Department. For several years, she served as co-director of the Academy of Excellence of Teaching and Learning at UMD, an organization that encourages and supports innovative pedagogical practices. She is currently a member of the Education Committee for the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, Smithsonian's national design museum in NYC and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, UK. Professor Lozner has lectured extensively at various venues including College Art Association Conferences, National Art Education Association Conferences, Maryland Art Education Association Conferences, AIGA and many college campuses. Professor Lozner's scratchboard illustrations have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic Magazine, Travel and Leisure Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Mother Earth News and countless editorial publications of non-profit organizations. In addition she maintains an active Fine Arts practice showing collages, drawings and sculptures at various galleries and museums around the country.