Lori Dunn did a great job on this little gator. I like the detail.
chottoMatte – black is the colour
The description on DeviantArt says: “scratchboard self portrait. Old one, for illustration class at university”. It’s a very strong image. All the shapes are interesting, and the high-contrast rendering really makes it pop. I like how the rough border contrasts with the smooth contours of the hair and shoulders. 
Ruth Sanderson – The Golden Key
I ran across this on Pinterest. I like the bark on the trees and the atmospheric perspective.
John Wilhelm – Taos Pueblo
I grew up in New Mexico and Arizona, so I have a soft spot for Southwestern icons. This pueblo image has a charming design that really caught my attention. The dark doors and windows make a beautiful asymmetrical pattern, and the diagonal shadows from the protruding beams give it energy. I love the ladder. Very nice.
Kent Barton – Indiana Jones
Kent Barton’s scratchboard illustration work is some of the best around. This piece isn’t new, but it sure is beautiful. My wife said, “The longer you look it, the cooler it gets”. I completely agree. The heavy lines create the mid-tone that ties everything together, while the overlayed ink hatching creates the darker shadows. I like how short scratches give character to the highlights, and the detail is completely blown out in the lit side of the face. The stippling on the hat is a nice contrast to the surrounding linear strokes. It really is a masterpiece. Even the abstract background has its own visual journey to enjoy.
Bob Boze Bell – Rattlesnake Kate
I’ve come across True West Magazine a number of times, admiring the sketches and quick paintings. Bob Boze Bell is the one running the show, and on 11/11/11 he wrote:
“In honor of this uno-alignment I switched gears on my “Not So Gentle Tamer” concept and did a black and white (actually scratchboard) of an Arizona Pioneer Woman dispatching a Mohave Ring-tailed Rattlesnake with a shovel.”
The finish on this is very rough, but I think it’s a gem.
Katy Rewston – Trixter
I ran across this raven in search of great scratchboard work. The high level of realism with minimal rendering really caught my eye. Katy Rewston’s Facebook page has tons of beautiful wildlife images in a variety of mediums.
Ricardo Martinez – killer drawing and masterful texture
Gifted beyond belief, Ricardo Martinez does the kind of work that makes me feel like a total art weakling. His ideas are great. His designs are great. He captures light and shadow with variety of crosshatching patterns, which give his work rich texture and style. If a gallery had all of his work hanging, I think I would take a very good look at each piece…multiple times. All at the same time it inspires and depresses me.
The gorilla is awesome, but the scratches that make up the leafy background are even more amazing – my favorite part of the image.
The skin of the whale blows me away. It has texture and yet looks smooth. The light and shadow really make this piece work.
Wow.
King Kong by kuruvata
This was posted on Flickr by kuruvata. I’m not sure what the artist’s real name is. I found it in with a nice collection of other scratchboard work on this page. I’m always amazed how people come up with different ways to express themselves using the same medium. A lot of artists today are pushing the envelope of realism, and I find myself doing the same. But, I still have a great appreciation for pieces with rougher strokes and compelling design.
Pestered by demons
These images come from a Flickr page posted by Angus McDiarmid. They were taken from old mugshot photographs. I assume he rendered them. I especially like the face on the left. The textures and light are very nice, even if the guy doesn’t look very nice himself.
