Making Marks With and Without Intention

 

1/20/26 photo reference

The other evening, I caught myself starting to doomscroll, so I gave my wrist a swift slap and grabbed a sketchbook. My reference photo was a neighbor’s colorful yard that I had snapped at the height of summer. I had been so attracted to all the lush layers of textures and colors I saw, not just in the yard but all the way down the block. Recalling the loose and free mark-making that Orla Stevens demonstrates and recommends, I first used a Derwent Drawing pencil to sketch in monochrome (below). I was just having fun making a variety of marks by holding the pencil in different ways – loosely from the back end, tightly as I usually do, gripped in my fist, held backhand the way lefties apparently write (not me, though).

1/20/26 photo reference

When I was done, it occurred to me that I had unintentionally made a values study. Of course, that got me thinking about the values-based color studies I have been making lately. Instead of making a simple mark-making exercise to distract myself from doomscrolling, it became a more intentional color study based on values (top of post). And since I’d already done the values study, it was easy to fill in with a variety of colors, even if they didn’t make “sense.” For example, the plants in the foreground were lavender, but I chose amber and pale green to emulate the lavender’s values. It was fun and relaxing because I focused on making a variety of marks, not trying to render the scene accurately. 

Limited tools, limited choices

Bonus: Although my main intention was doomscrolling prevention, I think these exercises now have the added benefit of being good practice for looser urban sketches.

I used the somewhat random and limited assortment of mixed-media tools (at right) that were still nearby. After making a couple of studies from photos several weeks ago, the water-soluble pencils and crayons had stayed next to my reading chair. I added the Caran d’Ache Fibralo markers after seeing Orla Stevens’ YouTube. It’s working out well as my anti-doomscrolling kit. With a small number of materials and colors, it keeps me from spending too much time thinking about what to use, and I can just jump in.

Below is a pair of sketches I made the next evening using the same process.

1/21/26 photo reference

1/21/26 photo reference

Trying to squelch doomscrolling? Make yourself a small anti-doomscrolling kit of a few mixed-media materials, and keep it next to the chair where you are most likely to scroll. Keep a sketchbook there, too, and you’re all set the next time you catch yourself. It helps to have some reference photos handy, too, but I bet your phone is full of them. Don’t spend long looking for just the right one; remember, it’s all about mark-making and not about accurate rendering. I would add to that: You don’t need to feel “inspired” by the reference photo! Even trash cans work!