This week in the AccessArt Art Club for ages 6 to 10, we started with a mark making exercise to help the children understand the importance of looking when drawing, and also of thinking, to help build their confidence in making creative decisions during the drawing process.
Teachers can read key points about this activity in a classroom setting by clicking the links below.
The Thoughtful Mark Making is a great exercise to introduce to children, and one which can be usefully referred to in future drawing lessons. It is suitable for all ages from 5 upwards. Benefits include:
Helps children develop mark making skills to improve drawing outcomes.
Helps children “look” more closely.
Helps children understand how they can use a single drawing medium in many different ways.
Helps children become confident in making their own creative and informed “drawing decisions”.
A set of cards with different marks on: Simply fold and tear a sheet of paper until you have 8 or so “cards”. On each make a particular type of mark: a dash, a dot, single line cross hatching etc…
A sheet of paper for each child.
An object to draw near each child: a fossil, a key, a piece of fruit, or a feather…
A handwriting pen or a sharp B pencil for each child.
AccessArt is a UK Charity and we believe everyone has the right to be creative. AccessArt provides inspiration to help us all reach our creative potential.
8 Comments
Sheila Ceccarelli
October 3, 2013 @
1:04 pm
What beautiful drawings! You can see the level of concentration in every mark. Lovely!
We’ve completed the first 3 days of the 5 day drawing challenge and would love to know the types of pens used in this particular video as we prepare for day 4. Thank you very much.
Hi Sam, it’s open as to what pens you use – biros, sharpies or other fine liners are fine. It’s good to have some thin and some thick so you can experiment with different marks. We have a materials list that accompanies our new curriculum which you may find helpful: https://www.accessart.org.uk/accessart-primary-art-curriculum-materials-list/
We hope that helps!
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Sheila Ceccarelli
October 3, 2013 @ 1:04 pm
What beautiful drawings! You can see the level of concentration in every mark. Lovely!
Nicola Fast
October 3, 2013 @ 7:24 pm
ooh now this is great, do you mind if I use this for a lesson?
Paula Briggs
October 3, 2013 @ 7:34 pm
thats the idea!
Suzanne F
September 19, 2020 @ 8:00 am
love this idea!
Sam R
June 30, 2022 @ 10:57 am
We’ve completed the first 3 days of the 5 day drawing challenge and would love to know the types of pens used in this particular video as we prepare for day 4. Thank you very much.
Rachel
June 30, 2022 @ 11:50 am
Hi Sam, it’s open as to what pens you use – biros, sharpies or other fine liners are fine. It’s good to have some thin and some thick so you can experiment with different marks. We have a materials list that accompanies our new curriculum which you may find helpful: https://www.accessart.org.uk/accessart-primary-art-curriculum-materials-list/
We hope that helps!
Sam R
July 5, 2022 @ 8:58 am
Thank you so much 🙂
Emma S
September 2, 2022 @ 4:30 pm
Love these activities, I can’t wait to try them with my class this term, thank you