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damagectrl — Scratchboard - Balthier
Published: 2007-04-14 22:44:11 +0000 UTC; Views: 2975; Favourites: 109; Downloads: 33
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Description
My friend really likes how this came out, but it just doesn't stand out to me as much as the others. I think it's because the picture I chose to base it on didn't have as much of a white contrast as the others.This is one of those pictures that look better from far away...-_-;;
It's Balthier from Final Fantasy XII. I'm going to be working on Basch next, if you're curious.
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Comments: 50
0_o !!! u have some serious talent! it's amazing go u!!!
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Balthier is so beautiful !! Really really great job !
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That is so amazing. Scratchboard!!! You are so extremely talented! ^-^
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omg i am speachless!! this is just simply amazing!!! i love it!! how can you do this? it looks so dificult!! and where did you get that scratch board? just wondering...
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Thank you very much. 
I got the scratchboard at a small, independent art supply store in Orange County. I believe you can order it online, too.
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Okay thanks! So do you take art classes or something? Because your artworks are AMAZING!! Im serious! The one of Fran just blows my mind!! lol!
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I took an art class for a year in high school, which was where I learned scratchboard. There is always room for improvement (a lot of it, actually), but scratchboards are pretty easy to do once you get the hang of it.
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oh wow thats really cool! okay ummm one more question....sorry heehee... ummm what happens if you make a mistake on the scratch board?
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It depends on how big the mistake is. If it's a huge mistake and you realize it too late, there is pretty much no way to salvage it. I end up using it as a practice pad for later stuff so it doesn't go to waste.
If you accidentally scrape a bit more than you want, you can fill in the white area with ink. I like to use the ink of a Sakura pen or a Staedtler pen (black with varying sizes depending on how big the area is) to fill in the excess white lines.
Since you can kind of tell the difference in the ink when when it shines against light, you can also buy India ink, which is what is usually used to give the scratch board the black coat. It may match better, though I've never tried. After the ink settles and dries, carefully scrape off what you'd like.
You have to be careful, though, because you can only do this so many times before you scrape off all the white and hit the board. If you plan on doing a portrait, start with the eyes first. If you mess up on the eyes, the entire thing will be off. You don't want to spend hours on the hair and then suddenly mess up on the eyes. X_X
No worries on the questions. Hope you're able to give it a try. ^_^
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Yeah I would like to try it! Im not so good at portraits though... mainly not good on people. I dont know why but things just turn out better looking if its a land scape or an animal than if I try to paint or draw a person. Even if its a character from a game its just hard for me. I dont know im weird lol.
I think when I get all my supplies im just gona expieriment with it for a little while, and then try to create a... DECENT looking piece hahaha.
I've never used this medium before, Im so used to charcoal and paints. But this is an intersting way to make art! I really want to give it a try! And thanks for the tips! Oh um what do you use to scratch? A box cutter or something? W
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There are kits you can buy to practice. Some people find it difficult because it is the opposite of sketching; lightening rather than darkening. The kits come with a little scraper, but I use an X-acto knife.
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Thank you very much for all your tips!!! I'll be sure to show you what I come up with! And good luck to you on any future pieces you make
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omg! balthier ! scratch board! together! great job, i love the detail!
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i think you made Balthier look very smexy, same with Basch.
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this is amazing. i love it just as much as i love balthier.
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I barely clicked to see more of your gallery, and I immediatly saw this and grinned.
You have some major scratchboard skills on you! the lighting and shading you're able to get done on this is amazing!
You do really nice eyes on these too.
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Thank you! He only took a little more than an hour to scratch therefore he is currently my favorite.
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really? An hour? Thats fantastic! How do you do it? Simple sketch first, then just go scratching? That would seem pretty hard becasue if you mess up, theres no going back.
Of the few of your scratchboards I'v seen, hes my favorite too. You should be really proud of these things
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I use a technique we learned in my studio art class a few years back. It's to trace out the picture directly on to the board. The hard part is you have to figure out the depth of the shades yourself. That's completely eye-balling the model and then transferring it on to the board. If you mess up, you can re-ink the area and try again, but you can tell and any large spots are really visible, so you have to try to avoid that. And then there is only so many times you can re-ink the area before you wear it out or it is completely ruined.
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Nice. I can see what you mean about the contrast (not being as white as your Tifa, Tiffa? for instance) but it's still a fabulous pic!
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Thanks! I'm hoping to get a few more done, so I've been playing around with the contrast for those pictures. Although, they're more detail and I think I'm in over my head...-_-;;
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hehe i love balthier almost as much as rasler... once again great job!
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Bathier is yummy. Heehee
This looks good! I love scratch board.
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Same here; I find it more fun than sketching.
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very nice. Personal favorite on this is how you did the highlights and shadding
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It can be a pain in the butt to melt the highlights together, though. That's the hard part. 
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Thank you! Amazing, it only too about an hour and half.
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