The Art Of Texture
Texture is characterised as the tangible quality of an object’s surface. It appeals to our sense of touch and can trigger feelings of discomfort, pleasure or familiarity. When applied to art, it can cause a number of different visual and physical responses. It can influence our emotional opinion, invoke psychological associations, capture our focus to a particular subject and redirect our attention towards the materials used in a piece of art.
Many artists intentionally use texture to elicit distinct responses from people who view their work. Adding this extra dimension of sensory simulation is a great way of bringing art to life. Bringing a touchable aspect can connect art to the physical world, helping to elicit a distinctive visual depth and ‘feel’ to your work (no pun intended).
Whilst there are many different ways to emulate texture, there are two main types to consider when painting:
~ Actual Texture is a combination of how art looks and how it feels to be touched. In painting, it is associated both with the heavy build up of paint which is known as the impasto effect, and/or the addition of physical materials such as sand, wood, fabric etc.
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~ Simulated texture involves creating a two-dimensional visual likeness of texture without actually including a tangible textured element to the art itself.
Texture is an important factor in our interaction with art and our perception of artist intent, so be sure to regularly exercise your textural awareness to expand and improve your artistic experience.
