I started this drawing project as a quick exercise to loosen up my mark making and free up my approach to subject matter. The drawing starts from the first image in the top left-hand side and continues from left to right across the rows to the final picture in the bottom right-hand corner.

I started by using charcoal to fill the paper with a variety of marks and gestures. I then expanded these marks to join each other and start blocking in shapes and forms. Continuing this process, I started to see objects start to emerge. I began to recognize organic, leaf-like forms and serpent-like shapes. Sharp spikes and circular pads started to develop as part of the foreground. Using tissue and a rubber I pushed and pulled the charcoal around to create depth and tone. In the final picture, I arrived at a point where I felt the forms had emerged and the image had been taken as far as it would go.

The forms feel like they’re creeping. There’s a dormant danger. It feels sinister.

Follow the links below to see more examples of mark making in art.

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/student-resource/mark-making-exam-help

http://stephenfeatherart.tumblr.com/

18 Mar This entry was published on March 18, 2019 at 12:29 pm. It’s filed under Art Thoughts and tagged Abstract, art, Charcoal, Contemporary art, Drawing, easel, mark making, marks, paper, shapes, surreal. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.