EXERCISE 1
On a scrap of paper, make as many
different types of marks as you can.
Loosen up and move your arm, twisting
your wrist and elbow. Push and pull the
pastel stick. Make light, soft marks fol-
lowed by heavier ones, keeping in mind
that the harder the pastel, the sharper
the mark. Try to get the character of
each line to speak to you.
TIP
Moving in a new direction is often uncom-
fortable, laborious and intimidating. Instead
of letting the move feel weighty, embark on
your abstract painting practice with a sense
of playfulness and curiosity—and cut yourself
a break. Experimentation is key to moving
forward. Take a few risks and don’t expect to
produce your best work immediately. There
are no failures, just more information. As I
explored this new-to-me genre, I asked myself
the question, “What if?” and let it drive me in
new directions. This question still serves me
well every time I begin a new painting.
I’ve made a wide
variety of marks in
width and length
to loosen my arm—
and my thought
process.ArtistsNetwork.com 17