Pet Portraits in Scratchboard by Joan Hewitt
Prints, Cards, and Custom Originals

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PRINTS AND NOTECARDS
The scratchboard pet portraits shown are available in 8.5" x 11" unframed prints
and 4.5" x 6.25" greeting cards (blank).
Prints, $25; Greeting Cards, $3.00

CUSTOM PORTRAITS OF YOUR PETS!
Send me a photograph and I will create a custom portrait of your pet.
Originals are available in 9" x 12" for $200.00 and 8" x 10" for $175.00.
As an artist I prefer the pure black and white, but I can add color upon request.

Scratchboard is one of Joan Hewitt's favorite media for pet portraits and animal art. A scratchboard work is essentially a reverse pen and ink drawing. It is made up of at least three layers: A hard backing, such as cardboard or poster board, is covered with a layer of white chalk, on which a layer of ink is applied and dried. Using simple tools, the artist can create very detailed images, including subtle shading, much like a good black and white photo. Scratchboard, known in its most advanced form as clayboard, has its origins in early communication. Signs, symbols, and images first were scratched simply in the earth with a stick and later appeared in cave wall scratchings. Cave scratchings and paintings became adornment for the cave, tracing the world and beliefs of their human creators. Because this artwork could not be transported, early artists began producing images on objects that were easily carried and often had functional value as well, such as clay pottery, ivory, bone, wood, and metal. Whalers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries passed their time at sea by scratching images into whale bones with sail makers' needles and enhancing the image by rubbing soot into the scratches. This art form is known as scrimshaw, and it can be seen in knife handles and other functional objects of the time.

The modern form of clayboard, a clay-covered hardboard panel, can be etched, enhanced with the application of other media such as pastels, and manipulated in other ways. Hence it is more versatile than scratchboard, although basic scratchboard allows a pure black and white image with crisp edges. I prefer to use clayboard, which I find produces the best results.

For additional information, estimates for custom work,
and available inventory, please contact:

Last Update:  February 8, 2012 | Copyright © 2012 Joan E. Hewitt
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children's furniture • hand-painted children's furniture • high chairs • children's rockers • children's tables and chairs
kids' furniture • hand-painted high chairs • pet portraits • animal art • scratchboard pet portraits
custom colored pencil pet portraits • handcrafted treasure boxes • cutout boxes • boxes for kids' stuff