Mark-making is something that I struggle with sometimes, as I tend to stick to the same media and prefer my favourites, although I wanted to try out some more variety here with the textures that I researched and looking into my colour palette with the colours I will experiment with now.
I explored textures through painting, using dry and wet brush strokes in a range of colours and thicknesses to see what looks effective and what would work well in my pattern. I think the scratchy quality of the strokes makes it look unfinished, so I do prefer the bolder lines, but even the paint then leaves behind the brushstroke, so maybe using pens or something sharper would be more effective for this.
I explored the idea of the graphic colour block with the lining here, which I think works well. I did not like how the paint looked lining the leaf as I think it is too thick and uneven, and draws attention to the imperfections in the lines too much. The sharpies were better and came out cleaner, I also like how the line misses the edge of the leaves sometimes which leaves a white bit through it, I think this is a graphic bold bit that could look very good with a coloured background behind it, giving it the effortless effect. I tried a variety of patterns over the leaves and patterns, but I think the most simple actually work better, avoiding black and going with a darker colour to go around the leaf, for some complimentary colours rather than contrast. I only did a little illustration of the pond with the dragonflies over it and the trails they leave behind them, which I think could be quite an interesting pattern idea.
Tahlia Paige 