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Layered Approach to Mark Making

Saturday and Sunday, April 25 & April 26; 10am – 4:30pm

Instructors: Diane Williams and Chuck Potter

Explore painting through a process of layering, gesture, and discovery. You will begin with intuitive mark-making, using your body to generate energy and movement on the surface. From these spontaneous gestures you will see how composition can emerge naturally.

Using stamps and geli prints, you will explore the role of pattern in creating rhythm and variety. You will practice editing – blocking out what doesn’t serve the whole painting, allowing clarity and intention to shine through.

Working in layers with a limited and balanced palette, you will discover how to build unity while creating dynamic contrast. The focus will be on cultivating your own visual language and learning how to trust your marks as they guide you toward strong, expressive compositions.

Instructors: Diane Williams and Chuck Potter both hold Masters of Fine Arts degrees in Studio Art and Consciousness studies from John F Kennedy University in Berkeley. They studied at the University of Hangzhou China, incorporating calligraphy, traditional Chinese landscape painting and Chinese medicine with their western art practices. Their studios are in Crockett, Benicia and Greenville.

Fee: Members $300; Non-members $350

Where: Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, 1210 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael (at B Street)

Materials List

  • Acrylic Paint

  • Mediums

    • Golden or Liquitex polymer mediums in gloss and/or satin

  • Brushes

    • Bring a variety of sizes including round and flat brushes. In addition, bring several inexpensive house painting brushes. You will need 1/2 -inch, 1 inch, 2 inch and 3 inches, and smaller detail brushes. Brushes do not need to be expensive and can be purchased at any art or craft store like Michaels.

  • Canvas or Panels

    • Please bring 2-4 canvas or panel substrates. Due to space limitations try to keep the dimensions under 30 inches in any direction. I like to put several smaller substrates together to create a larger piece. Although stretched canvases or canvas boards are already primed, please prepare your surface with 3-4 additional coats of gesso for a more professional surface.

  • Water containers

    • Any type of container to hold water such as cottage cheese containers or plastic food storage containers from the dollar store. Bring big spray bottles for wetting your surface.

  • Palette

    • You may use large paper plates, wax paper or commercial palette pads, or plastic containers such as take-out food containers that are rigid plus have a lip so you can mix your paint with mediums and water. I like several palettes so I can dedicate 1 palette per color.

  • Other Supplies

    • Paper towels, Palette knives and rubber scrapper, wiping cloth, sponges, etc.