#melissahelene

Jul 14, 2021
3 min

Care For A Finished Scratchboard

Completed scratchboard artwork is sprayed with a protective varnish and are actually more durable than you might think - considering the whole medium is scratching! I use a Golden Archival varnish with a matte finish on every single completed scratchboard. This varnish protects the artwork from dirt, moisture, UV damage, and MINOR scratches. The protective layer can be scratched through with a sharp tool or gouged with a sharp object, so the artwork does need to be protected

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melissahelene

Jul 1, 2021
8 min

Art Festivals: During and After A Show

After participating in my first two juried art festivals of summer 2021, it feels very appropriate and timely that we are discussing what to expect when you show your work at an art festival and the things to do afterward. This is part three of my series about juried art festivals - if you missed part one (applying) or part two (preparing), be sure to check those out too! Let's dive in! LOAD IN: each festival will have specific instructions for how and when to arrive to their

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The Ins and Outs of Applying to Juried Art Festivals

melissahelene

Jun 3, 2021
6 min

The Ins and Outs of Applying to Juried Art Festivals

Welcome to my three part series about juried art festivals! This first section will be all about applying for shows - the research process, organizing your data, preparing to submit applications, paying fees, and tracking important dates and information. If you want to apply for multiple shows in a year (or even on the same weekend - we'll get to that), then this process can get quite complicated...but with a little organization, it can be less stressful. First, let's discuss

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Scratchboard Tutorial: Creating Realistic and Soft Fur Textures

melissahelene

May 20, 2021
3 min

Scratchboard Tutorial: Creating Realistic and Soft Fur Textures

Today's post is all about FUR! I use a combination of the small fiberglass brush and an x-acto knife to create realistic looking fur. There are several ways to render fur on scratchboard, but I'm going to talk about my specific processes and methods. The first step in almost all of my scratchboard textures is the small fiberglass brush. I use this tool to put in the first layer of scratches, which helps establish the flow of the fur (the direction in which the individual hair

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Scratchboard Tutorial: Creating Photo-Realistic Eyes with Life and Soul

melissahelene

Mar 25, 2021
4 min

Scratchboard Tutorial: Creating Photo-Realistic Eyes with Life and Soul

Today I am talking all about EYES! The eyes are my favorite part of every single piece. I work on them first, when I'm fresh with a new piece, and take the most time with these specific details. I also believe that they can make or break a photo-realistic piece. I am going to share with you the steps that I take to create photo-realistic eyes in my scratchboard wildlife artwork, share the tools I use for specific textures, and share video examples of each step. Most of the sc

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melissahelene

Mar 11, 2021
3 min

Scratchboard Tool Feature: Inks

Fixing Mistakes One of the most common questions that I get asked, especially at art festivals, is about fixing "mistakes" on a scratchboard. I use quotes on mistake because it's artwork and it can be whatever I want - so mistakes are completely subjective. BUT I know what they mean is, how do you change marks that you've put down on a scratchboard if you can't erase them? The short answer is...India ink pens and scratchboard ink washes. The more in-depth answer that I usuall

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Scratchboard Tool Feature: The X-Acto Blade

melissahelene

Feb 10, 2021
2 min

Scratchboard Tool Feature: The X-Acto Blade

The X-Acto blade is the second most important tool in my kit. This tool is very easy to get your hands on - you can find it in any arts and craft store and many other places because it serves so many different functions. I use the x-acto knife in many different ways - the first of which is to create the striking and individual details in each of my scratchboard wildlife portraits. Unlike the fiberglass brush that creates many very fine strokes within one pull of the tool, the

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Frequently Asked Question | Second Edition | Scratchboard Wildlife Artwork

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Frequently Asked Question | Second Edition | Scratchboard Wildlife Artwork

Hey there everyone! I am back with the second edition of my Frequently Asked Questions blog post series. I will be answering more of the questions I get asked at every art festival in greater length here and hope that it makes things more clear for you. Scratchboard is not a well known artistic medium, so I'm happy to be able to give you a glimpse into the world of highly detailed, photorealistic, black and white scratchboard wildlife artwork! Here we go! #1 How do you fix a

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How to Create Black Fur on Scratchboard | Tips + Techniques

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

How to Create Black Fur on Scratchboard | Tips + Techniques

Scratchboard Tips and Techniques - Take One! I get asked all the time if and how it is possible to draw a black animal on a scratchboard that is already completely black. Well, today I am going to dive into that very topic and explain how to scratch into the board to create black fur, hair, or feathers. The key to creating the illusion of black fur and still retaining the realistic quality and details is to focus on the LIGHT! Think about a black dog or cat, especially if yo

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Everything You've Asked About Scratchboard | Edition One | Frequently Asked Questions

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

Everything You've Asked About Scratchboard | Edition One | Frequently Asked Questions

Fine art scratchboard is a rare medium that most people are not familiar with in an intimate way like they may be with photography or oil painting or pottery or any number of more common artistic mediums. I've been showing my scratchboard wildlife artwork for five years and I get asked the same set of questions over and over as people at art festivals and galleries try to familiarize themselves with it. With all of you in mind, I decided to create this blog series to answer t

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An Inside Look at Art Festivals: What You Know and What You Don’t

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

An Inside Look at Art Festivals: What You Know and What You Don’t

There are many questions I get regularly about my work as a professional scratchboard artist, including what the heck scratchboard is, how long it takes to complete a piece, where I show my work, and how commissioning a custom pet portrait works. One part of my business that people don’t typically ask questions about until I bring it up is art festivals and how they work. Once I start explaining it, the questions and the surprised looks come rushing out, so I thought I would

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melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Polar Bears | Endangered Species Series

Polar Bears...the romantic symbol for the plight of the endangered species. Polar bears have become one of the head figures for the global climate change movement and for this reason, they may be one of the lucky ones. All endangered species need our attention and our help to preserve their habitat and protect them from harm, but there are so many of those species that no one in the general public knows about or cares about. The polar bear is a large, beautiful creature an

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Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) | Endangered Species Series

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) | Endangered Species Series

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Average Weight: females - 5-8kg, males - 6-12kg Grouping: predominantly solitary with complex social hierarchies based on a dominant male with territory that overlaps several females and sub-ordinate males on the periphery Range: Australia - NE Queensland to Eyre Peninsula in the south Habitat: temperate, sub-tropical and tropical forests, woodlands, and semi-arid eucalypt areas Population: fewer than 80,000 in the wild, may be as few as 43,000

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MH