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Mark Making Activity 1

Discover innovative ways of creating unique marks, using a wide variety of mark making tools and mediums.



What is a mark? A mark can be a splash, drip, line or shape. It can be either losegestural, structural, or controlled.

Mark making is a fundamental part in making any type of art, it allows us to test ideas, take risks, make mistakes, see cause and effect, and express our emotions. It also develops our physical skills, creative skills and imaginations.


The idea of this workshop is to be playful and explore the different marks you can create using all sorts of different things. Then you can incorporate them into your own work! Have a look at the pictures at the bottom to get some ideas.

You will need

  • Paint or Ink

  • Large sheet of cartridge paper

  • Various mark making tools

  • Newspaper to protect surfaces

  • Plastic tub


Mark making tools

  • Paint brushes

  • Pens and other drawing tools

  • Old toothbrush

  • Forks

  • Ice-lolly sticks

  • Straws - to print with or blow through

  • Corks - for printing

  • Cardboard - to print and draw with

  • Marbles

  • A comb

  • Dried Teasels

  • Feathers

  • Bamboo Skewers


Here’s a few tips!

  • Work standing up, this way your whole body is free to move and allows you to make larger movements

  • Adapt your art tools, i.e pen or paintbrush, by using a stick to extend them. You could use either a wooden stick, garden cane or even twigs! Use masking tape to secure the art tool to the end of the stick and try making marks further away from the paper

  • Work to music

  • Try varying the pressure - press lightly and explore how different amounts of pressure change the marks you make


Once you have gathered your materials be playful and inventive and have fun exploring the different marks you can create.


Talk through and explain your process, ask questions

'What was your favourite mark making tool?' 'What did you notice?'


Please share your creations and give me a mention! @artlab.workshops #artclubfromhome






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