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)
