Profile - Judith White

JUDITH EDWARDS-WHITE, MSA

I am a self-taught painter and scratchboard artist and have always had a love of art, my favourite subjects being domestic animals and wildlife with floral and still-life a close second.

It was not until I left my full-time secretarial position that I took a more serious interest in painting and then, when browsing the internet, discovered scratchboard art, and I have become totally addicted to this art form ever since.

I became one of Australia’s first two designated Master Scratchboard Artists when a set of initial Master members (MSA) were juried into the ISSA (International Society of Scratchboard Artists) by a panel of three outside jurors (all highly esteemed professional artists themselves).  At this present time (2025) I am proud to be the only MSA in Queensland with there currently being a total of four in Australia.

My scratchboard works are in private collections in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, China, Netherlands and Australia.  I am an award winning artist and have been a published artist since 2006 with my painting and scratchboard art featured in Aus. Fine Art & Decorative Painting, Aus. Artist’s Palette, Aus. Artist, Aus. Drawing & Inspiration, Aus. Creative Artist, Aus. Country Craft & Aus. How to Paint Pets, magazines. 

IT IS NOT A PHOTO – Scratchboard is a complex and time consuming medium and many hours are spent on each board which can take weeks or months to complete.

WHAT IS SCRATCHBOARD???  Scratchboard art is a form of direct engraving where the artist uses subtractive techniques to create the image.  Different tools such as an Xacto knife, scalpel, tattoo needles and fibreglass brush can be used to remove the black ink to create the image underneath.  If the use of colour is desired inks can be added to the exposed areas or the board can be left black and white.  An interesting quote by another artist about the medium – “Scratchboard – an unglamorous name for beautiful art”.

Ampersand “Scratchbord” made in the USA which enables the finest detail to be created is used for all of my work.