Mark Making: Creating Without Fear

Embracing the Process, Not the Outcome

I recently came across a quote in a book that said something like this:

Try to make the worst painting possible. Just keep going.

Something about that hit me. It felt freeing. What if I stopped overthinking? What if I didn’t worry about making something “good” but instead focused on just making?

That’s exactly what I did with this piece. I let go of expectations, picked up my tools, and started. No rules, no plan—just movement, layers, and trust in the process. There’s something beautiful about not knowing where a painting will go but showing up for it anyway.

Materials & Steps I Followed

Materials Used

• Acrylic paints (lots of layering)

• Tape for texture and structure

• Charcoal for bold mark making

• Palette knife for scraping and movement

• A mix of brushes—some intentional, some just for messy strokes

Steps in the Process

• Base Layer → Started with a single-color base, adding some texture to give it depth.

• First Layer of Tape + Marks → Placed tape, made random marks over and across it.

• Adding Colors → Used a mix of colors while keeping unity in mind—enough contrast to feel dynamic but not chaotic.

• More Tape + Layers → Repeated the tape process, adding even more marks and textures.

• Tape Removal → Peeled off the tape to reveal unexpected patterns underneath.

At no point did I try to “fix” anything. The goal was to keep going—to let the painting evolve without judgment.

What I Learned

The Base Layer Holds the Story

If you cover it up completely, you lose its history. Next time, I’ll be more mindful about protecting parts of it.

Not Every Medium Works the Same

Inks and drips don’t pair well with tape—they spread and disappear. Charcoal, on the other hand, creates strong, expressive marks.

Don’t Overwork Each Layer

The more I tried to control the outcome, the less exciting it became. Working fast and loose gave the painting more life.

There’s No Right Way—Only the Next Step

Every mark led to another, every mistake became part of the piece. The best thing I did was to keep moving forward without questioning every decision.

This whole process reminded me why I love creating—not for perfection, but for the freedom it gives.