how to make marks (watercolor)

I'm not an artist, but I do like to make things. This zine-game was born out of a desire to paint with watercolors — without getting bogged down by choices (subject, style, etc) or expectations ("Create something beautiful!")

The purpose of this zine-game is simply to enjoy the process of painting and being present.

To play, you'll need:

•  1d6
• 6 colors of watercolor
• a brush (I used a small-ish round brush)
• mixed media or watercolor paper

You don't need fancy paints or brushes or paper — just the basics, and a willingness to experiment.

The zine guides you through creating six mini-experiments by laying down four layers. Each layer builds in opacity (value). Colors and types of mark (e.g., squiggle, diamond, dash, cloud) are decided by a roll of the die. 

Also included is a DIY version of the zine — fill in your own mark-making prompts!

New to watercolors or want to brush up on basic techniques (how much water, etc)? I like the YouTube tutorials from Witty Gritty Studio, as well as Ana Victoria Calderón's SkillShare classes.