Scratch it Out

Charles Henry Alston painted The Family in bold blocks of color and lines that he made by scraping the surface of the paint with a palette knife—a tool with a blunt steel blade that artists often use for mixing or applying paint. 

Learn about Alston’s painting, The Family, and scratch out your own family portrait on a colorful scratchboard. 

Materials:

• Thick paper or card stock
• Crayons or oil pastels
• Dish soap
• Black tempera paint
• Large paint brush 
• Small container
• Something pointy (a chopstick, paperclip, or thin stick)