Hello everyone! This is to confirm that we will have our next Art Play Date tomorrow night (Thursday) at 8 pm. (I might start to play around with times over the next few months - I don't know about you, but I have more energy earlier in the day. But I know the evenings work well, so for now, let's go with that).
I think this week I would like to think about mark-making. I love the idea that you can do so much with each tool (paintbrush, pencil, pen, etc...) and all it takes is a bit of free play and experimenting, and not only can you discover new techniques, but they belong to YOU! Helping make your art totally unique to you. I know people are always asking about how to find your style, and if there is such an elusive thing, I think the marks you make are a HUGE part of that!
Next month we will play around with acrylics, but I wanted to give a bit of notice for that, so for now, we will play with marks. I hope you can join me.
Never been to an Art Play Date with me? This is how it works: Turn up at 8pm on the allotted night (this month it is Thursday 27th April at 8pm) via the Zoom link below. Bring along the materials I suggest (see below) and there follows a 45 min (ish) free play session. I put the camera on my paper, so if you like guidance, you can follow along with me, or you can start with me and go off-piste halfway through (in fact, I encourage that!), or you can do your own thing entirely, and just come along for the chat! We always have a nice chat, and end up solving some sort of minor problem, or finding a new interesting discovery or recommendation. We finish with a wee show and tell - for those that want to. It is entirely voluntary!
Materials for this week:
This is going to be a free-play, grab what you can and explore with different marks, so it's kind of up to you, but I suggest some of the following: a mixture of pencils (coloured, graphite, different weights, ie. 2B, 8B etc), paintbrushes and paint, crayons, pastels. You could also find some assorted miscellaneous items to make marks with: sponge, stick, skewer, nerf bullet, ear bud (the sort you clean your ears with, not the expensive Apple variety)! I suggest a 10 min run and grab around your house/flat before you join!
Looking forward to a catch-up - it feels like AGES! ☕️ 🎨
Ella xx
© images Ella Beech
Zoom link is below. Art Play Dates are for subscribers only. You can join for £4.50 per month - that’s like a fancy coffee these days, and as well as access to my Art Play Dates, you get access to my back catalogue of paid posts including past Art Play Dates and regular updates and behind the scenes from my studio. Plus, access to my private community, chats and loads more. You also help support me in making not only this content on Substack, but you help support my transition into becoming a fully-fledged illustrator.
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