Adding Color to a Pen and Ink Scratchboard Drawing

This video shows one method for adding color to a pen and ink drawing (a line drawing). In this case, it's a pen and ink drawing on scratchboard. Usually called a scratchboard drawing. There are other methods for adding color to a line drawing, but with this method, I end up with two original pieces of art that can be framed -- the original scratchboard drawing and the color version of the scratchboard drawing.
Here are the basic steps.
Do the original scratchboard drawing. Make a film positive of that drawing (enlarged to about 125%). Expose a screen with that film positive and screenprint the image in light blue onto a piece of Ampersand Claybord. Line up the film positive over this "blue line" print and tape it in place. Brush opaque color over the whole blue line using the blue line as a map to show where to apply different colors. Use the same exposed screen that was used for the blue print (the blue has been washed out and the screen dried) and overprint the color board with black (line art over the color). Do further hand work on the color version until it is finished.
The only things I will do differently next time are to use a more water-resistant ink for the overprinting of the black line drawing and use guache instead of Liquitex airbrush paint.
Illustration and video by Michael Halbert:
www.inkart.com/
www.behance.net/MichaelHalbert
Note 1: I try to show my work process as accurately as possible. However, I do take some liberties with the editing of the videos. For instance, almost all my videos use time-lapse to speed up the process. I would like to show an entire drawing in real-time, but even my simplest drawings can take a full day--major drawings can take one to two weeks. No one wants to watch me draw for two weeks. Also, some of my edits are just for my own enjoyment. Video is a hobby for me, and I like to experiment.
Note 2: I call my drawing medium scratchboard, and it is. However, a more accurate description of my technique would be "pen and ink on white scratchboard." I work on white scratchboard, and I draw with pen and ink the parts that have a value of 50 percent gray or less. For areas that are 50 percent gray or darker, I block in with solid black ink and scratch in white lines for detail.
Note 3: I am showing how I work. However, although I have been an illustrator for over 35 years, there may be times when I am doing it wrong or not doing it in the best way.
Materials I use: Ampersand Claybord, white, 1/8 inch thick; Micron pens; Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph pens; Higgins Black Magic ink or Koh-I-Noor ink; Scratch-Art knives, silk screen, Liquitex airbrush paint.

[@lord_ofmaps]

Beautiful!

[@MichaelHalbert1952]

Thank you!

[@jdsantibanez]

I was really bad at this when I was an art student. Your work is magnificent!

[@imradhikabharti]

O my god amazing 😘😘😘😘😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@1992charlyf]

you are a true master of art! I really enjoy your videos, thanks

[@ihaveasticknmyi]

Thank you for sharing. I love seeing all the techniques you use. Very motivational for those of us with projects of our own.

[@jagatardian01]

This is a beautiful small piece of a thing on earth

[@marcelorezende1572]

love it

[@TheJinzoSpoon]

Missed these videos

[@otharusstei229]

Thank you for everything 🙌🏼

[@incfamil]

Love you engrave Michael🖤

[@dingo.graphics]

Fantastic work!

[@ukan.536]

Long time no see.
You make great work.
Surrealism is my favorite.

[@sarajamal799]

Nice !

[@fen3184]

Fantastic.
What would you recommend instead of the speedball black ink, for moisture resistance?

[@MichaelHalbert1952]

I used Versatex Printing Ink before and it was satisfactory.

[@fen3184]

@@MichaelHalbert1952 Thank you.

[@nadiam312]

So beautiful. I was lost on the process. I am a complete beginner so I was wondering if I ever could to the point i can do this. Is there a better tutorial for a complete beginner on how to do this?

[@MichaelHalbert1952]

Yeah, this is probably not a beginner project. First you have to do the scratchboard illustration. That alone has been a lifelong learning process for me. Then you have to learn screen printing. I've only been doing that for a few years and I have more to learn about it. If you're a complete beginner, I suggest starting to take art classes.

[@nadiam312]

@@MichaelHalbert1952 Thanks

[@barbaraluisasantana5953]

Woh! It really is ART!!! I need to ask... where did you study to learn this? Is amazing!!!!!

[@MichaelHalbert1952]

Self-taught.

[@barbaraluisasantana5953]

@@MichaelHalbert1952 even more amazing! so how could i learn?

[@scott-xg1il]

hi, do you have instagram id? share this pic on instagram and share your id.

[@MichaelHalbert1952]

michael_halbert