I love mark making and I only really discovered it this year. A simple exercise of being free and playful without any preconcieved ideas of what the page should look like.
If you have never tried it, I truly recommend you give it a go. It's taught me a few things.
Making marks in different ways, with different art mediums and different types of brushes can be the springboard for bigger pictures.
Holding paint brushes differently from my 'usual' way has taught me the different shapes and lines which can be made using a single brush
You dont have to start with an idea. Just a colour and a pen. Just draw whatever - and you'll start to get a feel for what is working and use those ideas to spur forward
Not every mark or image will be wonderful - thats ok.
Its a fabulous exercise for trying out new colour combinations and art mediums.
It's a really brilliant way to make art when you're not really feeling creative.
I've put together a second video about mark making, which you can find below. The first can be found on my You Tube channel.
I'd love to hear about what you like about mark making - or if you've never tried it and give it a go - let me know what you think.