As you probably know by now, I am fascinated by art and in awe of artists — how they can look at a blank canvas, a lump of clay, or a piece of wood and then create something beautiful.
A week ago, I went to the reception for the November North Valley Art League’s exhibit. People attend each month for a variety of reasons: they know the artists; they are the artist; they enjoy local art; there are free hors d’oeuvres. (I hit two of the four.)
Most of the mediums I saw I was familiar with: mixed media, ceramic, mosaic, watercolor, acrylic, photography.
But one was new to me. Scratchboard. I had never seen nor heard of it before and had to talk to one of the artists to understand it. I was fascinated.
Perhaps you are already familiar with this art form, but if you aren’t here is a brief explanation: Scratchboard is a type of engraving where the artist scratches off the dark top layer of ink to reveal the white beneath. From my viewpoint it is extremely intricate with little room for error.
A local artist had one in black and white, but on the other two he had added color and the finished work looked like a photograph. I couldn’t take pictures of this artists, but I have supplied two examples of scratchboard art from the internet. The black and white is from Carrie K. King’s website and the one in color is by Nicolas Delort.
I know I say it again and again, but it is always worth repeating. We are God’s handiwork. He is the master artist, and the Bible reminds us of this:
Isaiah 64:8: We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s handiwork . . .
Philippians 1:6: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion . . .
We have been created in God’s image. We have the ability to imagine and create, and if human artists can create such beauty from the such base beginnings, imagine how much more can God do with our lives if we only let Him.
A week ago, I went to the reception for the November North Valley Art League’s exhibit. People attend each month for a variety of reasons: they know the artists; they are the artist; they enjoy local art; there are free hors d’oeuvres. (I hit two of the four.)
Most of the mediums I saw I was familiar with: mixed media, ceramic, mosaic, watercolor, acrylic, photography.
But one was new to me. Scratchboard. I had never seen nor heard of it before and had to talk to one of the artists to understand it. I was fascinated.
Perhaps you are already familiar with this art form, but if you aren’t here is a brief explanation: Scratchboard is a type of engraving where the artist scratches off the dark top layer of ink to reveal the white beneath. From my viewpoint it is extremely intricate with little room for error.
A local artist had one in black and white, but on the other two he had added color and the finished work looked like a photograph. I couldn’t take pictures of this artists, but I have supplied two examples of scratchboard art from the internet. The black and white is from Carrie K. King’s website and the one in color is by Nicolas Delort.
I know I say it again and again, but it is always worth repeating. We are God’s handiwork. He is the master artist, and the Bible reminds us of this:
Isaiah 64:8: We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s handiwork . . .
Philippians 1:6: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion . . .
We have been created in God’s image. We have the ability to imagine and create, and if human artists can create such beauty from the such base beginnings, imagine how much more can God do with our lives if we only let Him.
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