Building Confidence Through Selective Observation and Mixed Media

This Wednesday at Great Ayton Art Club, we continued exploring watercolour and mixed media illustration, focusing on expressive mark making, colour and learning how to interpret the scenes in front of us.

We began by laying down a foundation of loose watercolour washes, building up larger areas of colour without worrying too much about the finer details. We then introduced watercolour pencils to create interesting marks, textures and variations in tone, before using acrylic markers over the top to add definition, contrast and unexpected touches of colour.

These adult art classes in Great Ayton are absolutely not about trying to create a photorealistic image. Instead, we're learning how to capture a scene that's recognisable while creating an interesting illustration in its own right.

It's about making creative decisions. What shapes are important? What details can we leave out? Where could we exaggerate a colour or introduce a different mark to make the composition more interesting?

One of the most important skills we're developing is the confidence to look at a scene and decide how to translate it onto paper, rather than feeling we have to copy everything exactly as it appears.

It's lovely to see everyone becoming more comfortable experimenting with materials and trusting their own decisions. The results are wonderfully varied, which is exactly what I hope to see.

Our weekly Great Ayton Art Club in North Yorkshire is all about exploring different art techniques, building confidence and developing skills that can be applied to whatever you choose to draw or paint next.