Using Texture in Art

 

Art Technique Monday

The implied texture of leaves

Today we will be discussing an art technique used by many artists called texture.  Texture is the ability to make an art piece look almost 2  or 3 dimensional through the use of materials that can stand out or have a certain feel to them.  Check out the pictures below.  Each one of them have texture.  One has what we call implied texture (the artist used lines and drawing skills to represent texture) and the other is real texture whereby an artist used materials and a technique to make the materials adhere to the art a certain way.

Why is texture used?

An artist might want you to actually touch their piece of artwork and not make it seem so fragile.  Art is to be consumed and enjoyed not just on display.

In the case of implied texture, the artist wants you to believe that a picture is fuzzy, hard, soft, etc. by using the lines, shapes, and shadows to create that illusion.

Artist Vincent Van Gogh
using texture to create a feeling

A well-known artist Vincent Van Gogh, used texture in this self-portrait to convey feeling and color.

A piece of tapestry, Art made from fabric

This artist used real texture by creating a tapestry made from fabric.  If you look closely you can see the fuzzy feel of the lines in the cloth. 

Check out this video on the Element of Texture.  Remember an element is an art technique used to make art and a Principle is the rule you follow to make the art.  Example, your teacher tells you to be quiet....that's the rule or principle, the element(s) would be the ways you try to be quiet such as put your head down, look away from the other classmates, read a book, etc.

Finally after watching the video, use the examples on these papers to see if you can make your own texture and watch me on Youtube Live to see if you can match my art technique using texture.

Artist usually use texture mediums to create real texture, but you can use anything.  I use eggshells, tree branches, stencils, etc. to give the art a piece of real texture.  Come join the fun!

Practicing Texture with Lines

Remember, to always be Artistically and creatively focused and live life beautifully for God!  Happy Arting.