Drawing is the most fundamental mark making

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Very soon I will be offering a weekend Drawn to Print online art course. I have been examining and thinking about how drawing feeds all of my printmaking processes.

drawing and making a screen for printmaking

I actually started printmaking because I did not like to draw. Printmaking plates, stencils and tools can give life to a simple drawing. It can make all the hard work of drawing live on and be bigger than the original sketch.

Making printing plates from your drawings is great if drawing feels like a struggle or burden to you. You can spend some time drawing and then a lot more time using that printing plate to make your artwork.

I challenge you:

  1. Expand you idea of what a good drawing is
  2. Look to some Master artists for study and inspiration
  3. Draw even just a little bit each day
  4. Consider accepting the idea that 75% will be practice drawings and you might like 25%

Here are some of the masters who I admire for their drawings, line quality and expressive marks. Do google image search of each name for quick visual of their style.

 

  • Alice Neel
  • Ellsworth Kelly
  • Paul Klee
  • Robert Motherwell
  • Henri Matisse
  • Kathe Kollowitz

Image Search for Alice Neel

Here is a great article about the importance of drawing. The Art Supply Store – Written By: Laura Spencer

It is wonderful when you get to a place in your art making that you realize that your unique differences are what make your art so special and powerful.

Love your wiggly lines and warped perspectives! They will help others to see what you see.

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Related posts:

    Tools to build your drawing skills
    What is “Mark Making”?
    Drawings as a matrix for printmaking
    Drawing and doodles – Just do it!

2 thoughts on “Drawing is the most fundamental mark making”

  1. Deborah

    I loved your free drawing tutorial. My question is, I want to learn how to paint dogs, is that harder? Do you teach anything like that? Beginning painting of dogs or something?
    Thanking you in advance

    1. Linda Germain

      Hi Deborah,
      I am pleased that you enjoyed the tutorial. I have not taught an animal painting class to adults. It is something to think about. But I would say start with a photo and use the tracing paper method to get you key lines. If you draw the lines with a sharpie, permanent marker, you could have fun painting over it with loose water colors. You could even print out several copies of your drawing and really experiment with adding paint to your drawing.
      Enjoy,
      Linda

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