OCA D1: Making Marks

Holding my pen or pencil

The way I held my pencil determined how much control I had over my line. I experimented with four methods: close to the tip in a writing hold, the middle of the pencil in a writing hold, loosely at the end of the pencil and my forth, which was bringing my hand over the top of the pencil and having the end rest in my palm. Each gave me very different results. I enjoyed experimenting with the loose hold at the end of the pencil, which allowed me to draw freely and expressively. I found the greatest control came from holding the pencil mid-way in a relaxed manner. This gave me freedom and control when I wanted it.

Particular emotions or feelings

Yes, in short, my drawings are deeply affected by my emotional state. Positivity will bring with it a certain flow and control to my drawings and if I feel this way then I will often opt for graphite or my Col-Erase illustrator pencils and use my time to observe and record. I will concentrate on my line, form and tone. If my mood isn't so positive then I may choose to experiment with materials or draw boldly with charcoal or pastels. Either way, I try to use my feelings and create something.

Drawing tools and techniques

I will attempt to draw with anything that makes a mark. Actually, I love ball-point pen ~ I like the tone you can build up with these. I often draw with graphite and my Col-Erase illustrator pencils. I love squared-off conte-crayon; the boldness and the ability to print with its sharp edge. I love oil pastels ~ they make me approach a piece differently because I'm thinking more about blocking in colour than I am drawing with line.

The introduction of colour

I try to see both colour and tone when creating a drawing, or a painting. Seeing both helps me establish boundaries for proportions in both positive and negative space.

If I am working in colour then I often find myself working from the inside and moving outwards, blocking in instead of drawing. I push my medium until I'm satisfied with the shape; the boundary. This would be a common approach for me using pastels or direct painting.

Interesting and rewarding

I found the freedom and expression in doodling the most rewarding. Previously, I would ponder things to draw and occasionally be unsatisfied unless I had something of interest to draw from observation. Now, this isn't so evident; I'm enjoying making marks and drawing from memory, creating lines, hatching, drawing spheres with light and cast shadows, and generally just enjoying myself and learning as I go.