Scratchboard illustration is a mystery to me. I have enough of a challenge trying to render in pen and ink, yet to reverse the method is something that really amazes me. Nico Delort is a master of the media.
His work ranges from Dark Gothic imagery, to old Universal Horror Film Posters to The Lord of the Rings. His portfolio also includes art for Magic the Gathering.
There is something about his scratchboard work that harkens back to old school engraving. The use of lines in retendering everything from clouds to oceans that also reminds one of the old school illustrations of Franklin Booth the difference lying in that Delort uses black as a negative space instead of white.
Nico Delort's work first came to me attention when I came across his rendering of an old Universal Horror version of Frankenstein. His technique in rendering the glass, the lightning in the background linking to the Tesla inspired coils, the ominous clouds with the burning of the windmill all center around a profile of Karloff imposing over the act of Frankenstein's creation on a lab table. It is a synthesis of the film into a single piece. Composition and theme in harmony.
His other works I checked out and was surprised to find how elegant his renderings are. Living in Paris France, he does have a Youtube channel that I have linked below showing his scratchboard technique.
Nico Delort also illustrated covers for William Shakespeare's Star Wars, the Star Wars universe based on Shakespeare's plays veering from his black and white illustrations and adding color.
I am rather surprised that Delort doesn't have a wider following. His work is really exceptional. Definitely hints of German Expressionism with a sense of old school techniques.
He also seems a bit mysterious as his drawings because there is not a lot about him online about him personally. He is though incredibly prolific and has an Instagram account.
He is a fantasist, visiting old themes as well as new ones. Evening tackling Anime with his rendering of Castlevania. He has done book covers, game cards and illustrations.
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