Elementary School Scratchboard Artwork Memories

One of the art activities in elementary school I remember enjoying as a child was done with old crayons, and very time consuming.

We would color in a whole piece of paper with different colored crayons, being sure to bare down very heavily and cover each section completely. When we were through, we would cover the whole paper with heavy black crayon. Then we would take something sharp and scratch through the black to make a drawing.

It was very time consuming, used up lots of odds and ends of crayons at the end of the school year, and was a very good way to use up lots of childish energy, too. We always made a big mess and had loads of fun doing it. It was like magic to see the picture appear!

Well, imagine my pleasure when I ran across the DMD Scratchboard Gallery blog, which displays some of the most beautiful artwork I've ever seen, all done on what's called Scratchboard! Here's the explanation of how she does it.

It's a shame that Fine Arts is the first area that school budget cuts tend to come, as I think art and music have lasting value for children. After all, here I am, remembering something I did in art class almost 60 years ago! Plus, I'm appreciating an artist's work all the more for being able to understand her technique!

Did YOU have art and music classes in school when you were little?


nostalgia, childhood memories, art class, elementary school