Last month we looked at various ways of mark making; this month we’ll put a few of them to work in a painting. We will be interpreting this photograph (below), not copying it, so see the picture as a springboard into a painting. Don’t let the photograph dictate what to include and leave you struggling to make a copy. Be selective in what you choose to paint. Don’t worry if your marks look different to mine; aim for a flavour of the photograph and see the step by step as a rough guide through the process.
I usually look at the photograph and think my way through the painting. For instance, deciding to use wax resist for a clear sparkle on the water is best done before I lose the white of the paper to paint. I also chose to crop some of the sky, as the higher horizon line places more emphasis on the interesting textural qualities of the beach. Not enough emphasis is placed on the importance of ‘play’ in the development of a painter. So be inquisitive, take time to explore the marks paint can make, and put them to good use in your painting.
Developing your mark-making skills through practice will see you progress in confidence and make your painting more enjoyable. So don’t stop here, try some more – it’s all part of the fun.