• A single mark creates a dot.
• An extended mark becomes a line.
• A cluster of marks become a shape.
• A series of repetitive marks become a pattern.

What is mark making?

“Mark making is a term used to describe the different lines, patterns, and textures we create ​in a piece of art. It applies to any art material on any surface, not only paint on canvas or pencil on paper.”

Mark Making Tools:

Almost anything can become mark making tools

Some interesting mark making tools found on Pinterest:

More tools:

Some Mark Making Works:

Emotions and elements of design:

Emotional connections fall into four basic category pairs – joy and sadness, trust and disgust, fear and anger, and surprise and anticipation. Understanding this range of emotion and how it relates to a visual message is important so that your design projects are received as they are intended.

Vincent Van Gogh has one of the most distinct marks in the art world. His paintings “Starry Night” (1889), is filled with swirling brush strokes that became a signature to his style. Why did he choose the soft swirls? Was he avoiding conflicts within? Was he calming himself with the sweeping brushstrokes?

Reference:

https://www.pinterest.com/kathleenlesley/mark-making-tools/?lp=true

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-does-mark-making-affect-your-paintings-2577630

https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/emotional-design/

Starry Night – Vincent Van Gogh’s Painting of Hope & Despair