Every time you set down your pencil or paint brush, you make a mark on the canvas. Even the simplest marks can help convey the movement, emotion, and theme of your artwork. Understanding mark making, then, and how it can impact your work is crucial to becoming an artist. Here, we explain everything you need to know about mark making:
What is it?
Mark making refers to the different lines, patterns, and textures you create in your artwork. Even a small dot on the paper is a part of mark making. It can apply to paintings, but also any other type of artwork like drawings.
Everything in your painting is made up of marks. As such, a mark is essentially a building block for your entire painting. Here’s how it works:
- A dot is a single mark
- A line is an extended mark
- A shape is a cluster of marks
- A pattern is a series of repetitive marks
How do you use marks in your artwork?
As we said previously, marks make up your entire piece of art. However, the marks you use will depend on what exactly you want to convey. Some marks show movement and fluidity, while others express stability and restrictiveness. These marks can then convey different moods. For instance, stable yet strict lines could represent anger, while fluid curves can represent calm. Being intentional in the marks you make, then, can take your artwork to the next level.
No artist learns on their own. That’s why we at Creative Ventures Gallery offers a wide variety of classes and workshops for you to choose from. Contact us today to learn more!