1. A method for setting a characteristic associated with a digital marking device, said method comprising: detecting a digital-marking-device engagement of said digital marking device with a digital marking surface; displaying, on said digital marking surface, a drawing-context touch-gesture proximity-zone indicator forming a perimeter of a drawing-context touch-gesture proximity zone; detecting a first touch gesture while said digital marking device remains engaged with said digital marking surface, wherein said first touch gesture is detected within said drawing-context touch-gesture proximity zone, and said digital-marking-device engagement and said first touch gesture are separate events; interpreting said first touch gesture according to a drawing context; modifying a drawing-context touch-gesture proximity zone indicator in response to detecting said first touch gesture; setting said characteristic associated with said digital marking device according to said interpretation of said first touch gesture; and applying said characteristic to a first digital mark on said digital marking surface, wherein said applying effectuates a change in a display characteristic, of said first digital mark, in accordance with said interpretation of said first touch gesture.