#112 MASTER CLASS — THE MARKS WE MAKE
Think about the tools you reach for again and again, the ones that just feel right. Each one shapes texture, rhythm, and expression in your work. In this Master Class, Coach Nadine shows how her favorite mark-making tools create movement, depth, and energy in a painting. You will explore how layering and varied marks build interest and guide the viewer’s eye, expanding your visual vocabulary and discovering marks that feel uniquely your own. The Marks We Make: simple tools, infinite possibilities.
WATCH THE MASTER CLASS RECORDING
Jump to a section:
Click the chapter icon (the bulleted list inside the video player) to see and select any part of the video.
Chapters and timestamps are also listed below for quick reference.
- Childhood & Art Tools: 00:00
- Tool Storage & Crayons: 01:16
- Water Soluble & Sealing: 05:55
- Material Intro & Texture: 41:39
- Layering & Patterns: 43:08
- Lines & Color Balance: 47:29
- Final Thoughts: 53:50
*Please note that guest presenters are not necessarily Academy members available for commenting.
what an amazing video, Nadine! TY so much for demonstrating how to make our paintings really interesting and with great depth. It’s a treasure.
Thank you, Lynne!
This was such fun. I’m walking around and looking for odd things to make marks with. I was captivated watching your thought processes. I have a bunch of paintings on paper that I am eager to mark up now. Thanks Nadine!
I can’t wait to see what you do! The kitchen, garage, and dollar store are treasure troves filled with wonderful mark-making tools!
Nadine, loved the class. So helpful. Thanks for the PDF resource.
I am glad you loved it! You’re welcome!
Great class and thanks so much! Can you tell me what kind of gloves you use? K
Hi Karen, I am thrilled you loved it. They are Black Nitrile Exam Gloves, latex-free and powder-free. Normally, I buy my gloves from Canadian Tire here in Canada. The kind that mechanics use. I am not sure where I bought these, but you could likely get them online at Amazon or any hardware store. These might be medical grade, but they aren’t as strong as the ones the mechanics wear. The ones mechanics wear are strong, and I wear them for weeks before they rip or get so covered in paint that I can’t use them anymore.
Thanks Nadine. Great session with lots of variety! Will you please include a link to the utility cart you use? Thanks!
Hi Lori, I am so glad you loved it. I am having them add the link for the Utility cart to the PDF above. Maybe check back in a day. I bought it from Ikea.
Nadine – this master class is up there with ‘one of the best’. I loved it! So inspiring, useful, practical and professionally delivered. This level of master class is what makes the academy valuable to me. Thank you. I learned so much about mark making. Thank you for taking time to share all the tools of the trade and how you use them in your masterpieces. Happy mark making. I am off to Dollar Tree/Dollar General and Family Dollar to get some of these great tools. I will fill my suitcase and return to Ireland with a renewed Hope for Happy painting 🙂
Noreen, thank you for your kind words. I am excited to see what you do with all your new tools. Please share it in the Academy FB group so I can see.
Aloha Nadine,
I really liked this masterclass. The tools, techniques and examples given sparked a lot of ideas for me! The list of tools are on your PDF today. I loved that you showed to push back the textures so as not to overtake the painting and become the loud conversation. Which is what I would definitely do.
Thank you!
I am so happy you like this Masterclass, Kevin! It’s hard to cover up the things we love, but it creates such incredible layers, textures, and surprises!
Wonderful informative demos, Nadine. I am loving your large paintings behind you!! I would be so thrilled if you did a video of you painting them. It would be a piece de resistance for all of us to see you creating such beauty!
Thank you so much, Nancy!
Super session, Nadine. Thanks. Watching your process was both educational and inspirational.
Two questions:
1. It looked like it was easy to wipe off newly applied marks with a blue shop towel. Was that because there was a coat of gloss medium under it?
2. Is there a pdf of the names of your tools available? If so, I missed it 😊.
Caio.
Excellent and enjoyable presentation, Nadine. Is there a list I can print out to get some of the tools you used? I looked for pallette knives with grooves in them and couldn’t find them anywhere. I have no idea where to purchase some of the items, eg. bottles with different textured brushes or sponges on them for liquid acrylics, etc. So a list with names and where to purchase would be extremerly helpful. Thanks for considering this request.
Hi Judith, the PDF should be uploaded here today! I am thrilled you like it!
Hi Tom, I am thrilled you enjoyed it! If it’s a water-soluble tool, then it should wipe off easily with a wet shop towel. Adding a layer of gloss medium would make it much easier. The PDF with all the tools will be uploaded here today!
Hey Nadine loved this masterclass. You explain everything so that we can understand .
I was wondering, where did you get that silicone roller and the lined silicone roller. I love the marks that it made, and I’ve looked for the same thing but have not had success in finding it.
Hi Maria, I am thrilled you loved this Masterclass. You can find a list of the tools in the PDF located below the video above.
Really enjoyed your demo of mark making! You mentioned a PDF list of tools- where would I look for them?
Thank you
Hi Vicki, I am so glad you like it. The PDF will be uploaded here today!