dynamic mark making with ink is
admirable and delivers a true sense of
the bleak terrain in winter.
So many artists talk about mark
making and ‘good’ and ‘bad’ marks. It is
very subjective and difficult to describe
what makes a ‘good’ mark and what
makes a ‘not so good’ mark. Perhaps a
‘good’ mark could be described as one
with a pleasing shape that conveys
information to the viewer in a simple
and economic way without any
unnecessary detail. After all, you cannot
draw or paint everything you see. You
need to simplify reality. How you
choose to simplify it will give you your
style. A good mark will reflect the
individual style of the painter and theirhttp://www.painters-online.co.uk artistApril 2016 45
Cotswold Manor House,
watercolour with pencil on
cream Bockingford Not,
11 131 ⁄ 2 in (28 34.5cm).
I selected curved ‘foliage
style’ paint marks at the
junction of the painted
garden areas with the
unpainted paper so there
was not an abrupt
demarcation at the edges
of my vignettepersonal interpretation of the idea they
are wishing to express.Vignettes
When painting a vignette some of the
paper is left unpainted and the painted
areas and unsullied paper are woven
together into a design. An important
part of painting in a vignette style is
how you link the painted and unpainted
parts. You need to give attention to the
marks you make on these edges.
Although the garden at the Cotswold
Manor House (above) was beautifully
manicured, the foliage was simplified in
my interpretation so the slightly looser,
more spontaneous paint handling in
the garden area contrasted with themore solid application of pigment on
the building.
The personal way you make the paint,
pencil or pen marks on your drawing or
painting will show your individual style.
This is how we recognise work by
different artists. A painting with good
marks will have character. The
sketchbook of a painter is often more
revealing than their finished works –
the spirit of the artist shines through in
the free and spontaneous marks. The
line work can be rough but the image is
full of energy.
With watercolour it is easy to forget all
about ‘mark making’ and dive into a
picture using sweeping washes and
merging paint. Strive to do your best at
all times and keep asking yourself
whether you are applying marks with
character.
Matthew Collings said ‘You can easily
make marks that crudely construct a
tree. The tree is not the main idea.
Instead, what the marks are doing is the
main idea.’Judi’s new book Painting Veniceis now
available, price £24 plus p&p. To order a
copy, see Judi’s website http://www.watercolour
.co.ukor email [email protected].