This is part 4 of a simple series - my GUIDE: Getting Started With Watercolour
READ Part 1 | Supplies
READ Part 2 | Activation
READ Part 3 | Wet-On-Wet
READ Part 5 | Colour Mixing
Mark making is a fancy way of saying go and explore the types of effects your brush can make on the page. Practice your brushstroke by using varying pressures, angles, or even hold your brush at different points on the handle.
Different brushes are better for certain applications, depending on what you are painting, the size of your page and what you prefer painting with. Don't buy a set of different brushes but start with one basic brush, explore all it can do, and then build you brush collection when you need one for a specific application.
A pointed round brush is a good place to start when watercolour painting. I suggest using a size 4, 6 or 8 as a starting point.
Give these ideas a go to play around and see what marks your pointed round brush can do!
+ with the tip, trying to paint thin-as-you-can lines on the page
+ press the brush down as much as you can to create thick lines
+ create waves
+ mix-and-match thin and thick lines in one motion
+ paint small dots and flicks
Painting different marks and practicing your brushstrokes is a great warm-up exercise when you haven't painted in a while. So use this as a helpful prompt when you're facing your blank page and are low on inspiration, and enjoy seeing what marks your brush can make.
DOWNLOAD Getting Started With Watercolour Checklist from The Artful Library
READ this journal post for 30 fun warm-up exercises when you want to get creative