Tutorials, videos, tips & techniques
Learn techniques from professional artists, follow art tutorials, watch videos, and more.
Claybord demonstration by Brigitte Waldschmidt
German mixed media artist and author, Brigitte Waldschmidt demonstrates techniques on Ampersand Claybord. (English subtitles)
Ampersand Big Panels
Gessobord, Claybord, and Unprimed Basswood are available in sizes up to 48x72. This fun video can give you a sense of just how big our big panels are!
Ampersand Floaterframe: The easiest floater frame you'll ever use!
Watch this quick video to see just how easy our Floaterframes are. Artwork by Dawn Emerson.
Read more … Ampersand Floaterframe: The easiest floater frame you'll ever use!
Tutorial: How to mount a photo to a panel and frame it
See how simple it is to mount a photo to an Ampersand panel and add a Floaterframe!
Read more … Tutorial: How to mount a photo to a panel and frame it
Introduction to Ampersand Claybord
Learn why Claybord is the ultimate multimedia panel in this informational product knowledge video.
Tips for using Claybord
While Claybord allows the use of traditional pigments, tools, and techniques, it is also an ideal surface for experimentation. You can cut into the surface and expose the white clay ground as part of the creative process. Pigments can be manipulated to vary tonal value, create detail, develop highlights, and correct mistakes.
Claybord overview
Claybord is our most versatile panel and is a favorite of both fine and graphic artists. It features a velvety-smooth and extremely absorbent clay finish to which no other surface compares. This kaolin clay ground formula is very similar to the clay gesso grounds used during the Renaissance period.
Ampersand Scratchbord/Claybord Inks
Scratchbord/Claybord inks are specially formulated for adding color to Ampersand Scratchbord, Claybord, and other paper scratchboards. The transparent inks leave vibrant color in only the white areas of scratchboard drawings and can easily be scratched through back to white when adding fine details and highlights.
Claybord used as Scratchboard
Claybord can be coated with inks and used like a traditional scratchboard. The advantage to using Claybord as a scratchboard is that you can control the tonal variations unlike using a traditional black scratchboard. Try this exercise and see how easy it is to do.