Art piece by Chia Han Lyn

This project is for creating, dare we say, almost professional looking
art pieces even if you have zero training in art.  Yes, it's this simple.  
It is also an excellent way of exploring the exciting world of Mark Making. 
Why make our own tools when we can buy them?  
This is because most of the marks made here,
will not be achievable using any brush or pen.  
This creative project will invoke in you a sense of
inner freedom & wild abandonment!
Suitable & seriously fun for all ages.

Here are a few of our very favourite artists whose mark
making pieces sends our hearts soaring.
To appreciate their works, leave your mind aside
& feel with your eyes & heart.

       
From left: Marthe Isaac, John Olsen

    
John Wolseley making his mark with the help of nature.

To begin, you will need the following 5 items:

           
1.  Any black ink.
2.  Variety of papers: cartridge paper, newspaper, brown wrappers, cardboard.  
3.  Twine & masking or scotch tape.  
4.  Lots of newspaper or any plastic sheet to cover the surface
you are working on ~ so you can be free to explore without
the concern of staining your table or floor.

              
As in all nature, there is the inevitable cycle of life & death.
We need not see death as something tragic, rather,
we can use it & transform it into something beautiful!
There is an abundance of fallen leaves & old twigs around.  
Collect a range of different types of twigs & leaves & either
use them as they are or bind them together to re-create
your own & viola!  You have your art tools.
See more examples of mark making tools here. 

      
Look closely around your home & you will find a myriad array
little things that you can re-use for this project.  
Put those plastic wrappings & shopping bags to good re-use here.  
Cut, roll, plait them into stripes & bind them together with
the twine or tape to create your Art Tool.  
Putting toothpicks randomly in a row is one of our
top favourite mark making tool.
Dip your tools in ink and scratch, splatter, scrape, roll & tap.  
Here are what your marks & lines could look like!

An important Art Tip:  
Remember how your parents or teachers used to
tell you to "Use your brains." ?  
Well, we're telling you, don't use them here!  J
ust enjoy the process and be playful!

We suggest you use a single ink colour to start with first
& then progress to colours.  This will help you stay focused
on creative mark making first before adding variations with colour.

Create a personalised wrapping paper!

Designed by Dorothy Chan

With all the different sheets of experiments you have, cut,
tear & put them together to form whatever image you like!  
Plant or flower forms, patterns or landscape as Carla has done here below.  
Pop in a simple frame & WOW yourself with it.

Artwork by Carla Tucker

Enjoy the process of mark making & send us your artworks here!  
All chosen artworks will be featured on our instagram page.