A little background first in order that you may gain a true appreciation for what goes into each engraving.  Scratchboard is composed of at least three layers of material.  The base is poster board, masonite, or some other sturdy material over which a layer of white clay has been applied.  A layer of black ink is then sprayed on top of the clay.  Thousands upon thousands of delicate lines are cut through the ink surface into the clay layer using a sharp knife or metal-tipped tool.  The artwork is literally scratched into existence.

Martiena R. Richter excels at the meticulous art form of scratchboard.  The phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words" was never more appropriate than in reference to the works created by this talented lady.  Born in the Netherlands, but raised in the American mid-west, it wasn't until 1985 that she began her professional art career.  Her work is displayed in two galleries on the site:  Gallery of Limited Edition Prints and Original Scratchboard Art.

There are 27 images within the Prints Gallery spread out over 3 pages.  A monarch butterfly appears about to take off from the petals of a flower.  A snow leopard drinks at water's edge.  Tiny raccoons peek warily from a hollowed out tree trunk, so intensely lifelike they look about to jump from your screen.  A black wolf, its amber eyes belying its predatory nature. Emerald Eyes, a leopard cub, keenly eager to explore the world.  And that's just a sampling of page one!  On to page 2 of the Print Gallery, and you discover a collection of big cats and birds (an a tiny animated hummigbird flitting amongst the images) so perfect it's difficult to believe you are not looking at photographs.  Page 3 holds Serengeti Lookout and Siberian Serenity - you want to reach out and stroke the fur of these majestic creatures.

Into the Original Scratchboard Art and you'll become transfixed by the blue eyes of a Bengal tiger.  Captured by the golden gaze of a Siberian tiger.  The achingly beautiful countenance of a snow leopard as it observes … you?  The 17 engravings in this section are magnificent and words will never do them justice.

Ms. Richter's work appears on Nature's Majestic Cats Plate Collection issued in 1993 by The Hamilton Collection.  Iris Giclee prints of Ms. Richter's scratchboard engravings are reproduced on high quality archival paper and match the originals exactly.

The site, created by Winklebee, is indeed a pleasure to visit - attractively designed, simple, elegant, nothing to distract you from the reason you're there - those incredible pieces of art.  Click on the little raccoon at the top of this page to view an outstanding collection of wildlife art fashioned in an unusual medium.

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