In recent weeks I have been enjoying playing around with abstract paintings and mixed medium pieces. One method I have enjoyed using is the grid method.

To do this all you need is to tape off a grid in your sketchbook or on your substrate of choice, and to create a mixture of textures, mark making and mediums over the whole surface. When dry, you peel back the tape and you are left with some miniature abstract pieces.

Not every piece will be successful, but it’s a great exercise in letting go of expectations for the finished pieces, a way to find unexpected mark making and compositions you love and an interesting starting point to take paintings further if you wish to.

I’m using this exercise as a way to help me analyse and understand what abstract compositions work and don’t work. Importantly it’s helping me understand and interpret what I like and what I want to explore further in future pieces.

Give it a try and see what unexpected treasures you discover in your own work and mark making!