Standing Nude Turned to the Left, Arms Raised and Head Lowered 

Mark Rothko created this drawing of a standing nude using charcoal on paper. Traditional art materials, yes, but there's nothing rarefied about charcoal and paper – they invite mark-making. Rothko clearly wasn't aiming for perfect anatomical accuracy here. His quick lines convey the weight of the figure, and her slightly awkward pose. The charcoal lends itself to the smudged quality of the work. See how Rothko uses areas of heavy shading and looser strokes to create depth? Consider the labor involved. A few simple materials, transformed by the artist's hand into something more. It is a kind of intimate performance between the artist, his materials, and his subject, resulting in an artwork which blurs the lines between fine art and the everyday act of drawing. By focusing on the qualities of mark-making, we see how an ordinary material can be a catalyst for creative expression.