2026 "Making Marks" The Natural World

This is a new workshop and something I have wanted to do for ages. I am excited to find and make tools for mark making from the “natural supplies” on the Sorrento Centre grounds.

Mark making describes the many different lines, dots, marks, patterns, and textures we can create in artwork. It can be loose and gestural or controlled and neat. It can apply to any material used on any surface. Making marks explores creating expressive lines, textures, and patterns using diverse tools – brushes, found objects, needle and thread  with media – paint, ink, dye, collage, and stitch.

In this workshop we will explore the marks found in the natural world and how we can create lines, shapes, and textures for creative expression, storytelling or representation.

We will be starting each day with a quick warm-up exercise to get those ideas flowing! Artists have “made marks” as a form of expression for ages and we will take a brief dip into the history of mark making and how it’s been used to create movement and light.

We will be experimenting on both paper and fabric and students are welcome to work on one or the other or back and forth between the two. Students will be shown how to make a few simple tools to add to the personal nature of their work.

We will be working with Procion MX dye, earth pigments,  resists, paint and screen print inks to create a ground for further exploration. Your design may end there or continue in layers. Students will explore more detailed layers using pen and ink, the drawn line and of course stitch. We will consider the possibilities of scale and repetition within designs and the possibilities.

This workshop will be mostly a series of technique based activities. Students can begin with a source of inspiration like an image or a collection of previous ideas as a starting place or allow yourself to led by exploration and experimentation. Sometimes having a place to start can be helpful…just saying.

Students can approach this workshop as a series of samples and explorations or work with intention towards a goal. As always composition and the elements of design will form a part of our study and samples often have a way of coming together to create a unique textile masterpiece.