Spontaneous Mark Making
Spontaneous marks are the manifestations of the unconscious — a nonverbal language through which the artist’s feelings, thoughts, and emotions find their way to the surface. These are unplanned, instinctive gestures that rise out of impulse or the state of mind at that very moment. They come from the inner world — often from places that have stayed unexpressed, buried deep within. Each mark could be a gesture of joy, desire, sorrow, frustration, helplessness, or even quiet acceptance. It’s a raw and direct form of self-expression, where the movement of the hand mirrors the movement of the mind.
It’s interesting how my mind ties actions to certain repair mechanisms. Sometimes, I catch myself drawing random lines with my non-dominant hand. It feels like stepping outside my comfort zone — facing something I don’t quite understand. It breaks the usual flow, interrupts my default reactions. Other times, I water down painted areas that feel too heavy and intense — almost like diluting a thought that’s been weighing me down, making it lighter so I can move on. Using stencils to create patterns, might be my way of finding comfort and predictability — a small pocket of control in an ocean of uncertainty.
One of my recurring habits is to spread a thick layer of texture paste or heavy body paint with a palette knife over areas that don’t feel right. It feels like an escape — a way to cover something that disturbs me and move on quickly. But as I write this, I’m having a moment - I’m realizing something: maybe next time, I’ll stay with it a little longer. Sit with the discomfort. Have a conversation with the ugliness and see where it leads.
The choice of materials also carries meaning:
Paint feels safe — familiar and forgiving.
Oil pastels speak of things the mind wants to protect yet show off.
Charcoal, on the other hand, pulls out what’s dark and haunting — the parts I know are mine but can’t quite release. The black residue on my fingers after using charcoal feels symbolic, like getting my hands dirty to deal with something stubborn, to divert attention elsewhere while fading away the background.
Other random everyday materials like bubble wrap, sticks, leaves, tissue paper, sponge etc. are all serving a similar purpose. They bring freshness to the table, breaking free from the old and creating something new.
Maybe the psychology behind mark-making is simply an exploration of the inner landscape — a way to trace emotional patterns, to see oneself more clearly. It’s both release and reassurance — a dialogue between chaos and calm, between what’s hidden and what’s finally allowed to breathe.