Texture in Art

Texture is one of the seven elements of art, alongside shape, form, line, value, colour, and space. It refers to the tactile quality of a surface and engages the senses of both sight and touch. Texture can be used to create a sense of depth, evoke emotions, and add visual interest to a work of art.

Artists often use texture to establish visual balance or contrast, integrating rough and smooth areas, or it can be implied rather than physical. Some artists prioritise texture as their main form of expression, while others use it to enhance other elements of their work. 

Artworks can incorporate both real and implied textures, and the texture itself can vary widely; it may be bumpy, smooth, soft, or scaly. The possibilities for creating texture are virtually limitless and are often influenced by the artist's imagination.

What Is Texture in Art?

Texture in art refers to the visual and tactile surface characteristics of a work of art. It can be achieved through physical means, such as bumps, ridges, and grooves, or through the illusion of physicality created by adding depth to a painting or sculpture.

Texture can also be implied through brushstrokes, lines, patterns, and colours. Whether you are working with acrylic paints, oil paints, or mixed media, creating texture can transform a flat surface into a dynamic and engaging piece of art.

Visual texture is not the same as actual texture. Visual texturing involves unique designs through the exploration of illustrations and photography. It is used in packaging, and the elements allow connecting with customers on a deeper level, generating curiosity and building brand loyalty.

Actual texture is something which makes you sense the surface, such as wood. In contrast, visual texture is an implied texture that is created by using a particular style of design, such as marbling, graphics, patterns, layered texts, lines, dots, or other repeated shapes. 

Texture Definition in Art

Texture is an essential element of art that represents how an object appears or feels. Sculptors and architects manipulate the surface characteristics of their pieces to create three-dimensional works of art. In contrast, painters can convey the illusion of texture in two-dimensional works, suggesting how an object or subject might feel if touched.

In photography, texture can be captured through the use of different lighting and focus techniques, while in digital art, texture can be simulated to add depth and realism to the artwork.

Texture can evoke different effects on the viewer and can also create a sense of depth, adding dimensionality to paintings. It’s beneficial to experiment with various techniques and materials to discover what resonates with you.

Texture can signify two aspects: 

1. The physical texture of the paint, which viewers can experience visually and through touch.

2. The illusion of texture created within the artwork.

Elements Of Art: Texture Examples

The elements of art, including texture, line, colour, form, value, and space, possess transformative potential. Each element contributes distinctively to the vibrant tapestry of artistry, fostering a deeper appreciation of the art world's captivating complexities.

Many artists, such as Van Gogh, Robert Ryman, Anish Kapoor, Mona Hatoum, and Michelangelo, employed texture in their artworks, showcasing the power of these elements to inspire and intrigue.

For instance, in Van Gogh's Starry Night, a thick application of oil paint was used without any attempt to make it look smooth.

Actual texture in art involves the use of paint applied in a thick, heavy manner. Such a type of textural effect is called impasto, and one can spot impasto in Robert Ryman's Untitled. Ryman’s subject matter is actually the brushstroke itself. And its relation to the ground or canvas on which he layered it.

Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor (b. 1954) created a sculpture known for its bean-like form in the heart of Chicago. It is a highly polished, organic piece that reflects the vibrant image of the city.

The sculpture's shiny surface was inspired by liquid mercury, and it captures reflections of people moving around the park, the lights of Michigan Avenue, the surrounding skyline, the green space, and the sky above.

Types of Textures in Art

Types of textures in art are diverse and intriguing, each offering unique possibilities for artistic expression. From the bold, dramatic effects of impasto to the natural, grainy textures of drybrush, the world of texture in art is ripe for exploration and discovery.

• Impasto: It involves applying paint or other materials in thick layers, creating a heavy texture. It's perfect for producing bold, dramatic effects in acrylic paintings.

• Drybrush: Drybrush is a rough, textured effect created by dragging an almost-dry brush across the canvas. It can be applied to get natural, grainy textures to landscapes.

• Glazing: This technique creates a smooth, transparent texture with multiple layers of transparent paint. It can increase the depth and richness of your artwork, especially if used with heavy-body acrylic paint.

• Sfumato: The technique creates a soft, cloudy consistency by blending colours. It's ideal for producing atmospheric effects in landscapes.

• Chiaroscuro: It highlights a strong contrast between light and dark areas, resulting in a sense of volume and texture. It can add drama and intensity to your paintings.

Texture Art Examples

Art history is a rich tapestry of artists adopting different techniques to create physical and visual texture. From the smooth, shiny texture of Michelangelo's David to the hard, bumpy texture of Alberto Giacometti's Le Chat, these examples enrich our understanding of the diverse uses of texture in art. 

Some examples are given below – 

• Michelangelo's David (1501–1504) is a sculpture of the Biblical king David, sculpted during the Italian Renaissance. It uses a shiny, smooth texture that emphasises the subject's figure.

• Le Chat (1955) by Alberto Giacometti depicts a cat, and the artwork has a hard, bumpy texture in contrast to the cat's typical soft fur.

• Starry Night (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh is a two-dimensional work. Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter known for his bright colours and heavy brushstrokes. His artistic philosophy was "Love what you love."  Although Starry Night is a famous Post-Impressionist painting of a village in the silhouette of a starry sky, it is an example of three-dimensional texture. The scene is rendered in the impasto painting technique, with thick, visible brushstrokes.

Visual Texture Art

Texture in art stimulates the senses of sight and touch, referring to the tactile quality of an artwork's surface. It is a vital element of design because it engages both the sense of touch and vision. Texture encompasses both the tactile sensations and the visual experience of a surface.

Whether rough or smooth, coarse or refined, textures prompt emotions and engage our senses. The terminology, rough, soft, glossy, and smooth, is used to describe texture, and it reflects the diverse expressions of the surface.

In the context of artwork, there are two types of texture: visual and actual. Visual texture creates an actual sense of texture, which involves various artistic elements such as line, shading, and colour. In contrast, actual texture refers to the physical quality of a surface that can be experienced through touch, such as the application of paint or the characteristics of three-dimensional art.

Actual texture is a definite quality, resulting from the use of real materials. Techniques like sanding, altering materials or polishing can affect the actual texture. Examples include stone sculptures, wood carvings, and textured ceramics.

Texture And Balance in Art

In three-dimensional artworks, texture refers to the physical feel of an object when touched. In contrast, in two-dimensional creations like paintings, texture relates to the visual perception of how the artwork might feel.

This duality adds layers of meaning and interaction within the artistic realm. The main goal of painting is to create the illusion of a three-dimensional subject on a flat surface, but it does not mean that the physical properties of the paint should be overlooked.

Artists strategically use texture for various purposes:

• By using different textures, artists create dynamic structures that heighten visual interest and harmonise their compositions. They use texture for contrast and balance.

• Artists employ texture in specific areas to draw viewers' attention to the focal point and emphasise key elements of the artwork.

• Texture can contribute to the overall style of an artwork, conveying authenticity and emotion.

• Various textures can be used to depict depth, enhancing the viewer's immersive experience.

Implied (Or Visual) Texture

The implied or visual texture appears realistic but is actually an illusion. It represents three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. Visual texture can be created using different techniques, one of which is frottage.

The term "frottage" comes from the French word "frotter," which means "to rub." Frottage involves scratching a pencil, graphite, chalk, crayon, or another medium onto a sheet of paper placed over a textured object or surface. The process captures the raised portions of the underlying surface and translates them onto the paper. 

Actual texture is tangible and can be experienced through touch. It arises from the use of real materials. Techniques such as sanding, polishing, or modifying materials influence the actual texture. Examples include stone sculptures, wood carvings, and textured ceramics.

In two-dimensional art, implied texture simulates tactile sensations without being physically present. Techniques like brushstrokes, impasto painting, and lighting adjustments create visual illusions of texture. Portrait paintings often employ implied texture to depict the smoothness or wrinkles of skin.

Functional texture is found in design and emphasises the tactile experience. Textiles used in clothing, chosen for comfort, warmth, or durability, are examples of functional texture.

What Is the Role of Texture in Art?

Layering the physical surface of a painting can produce a three-dimensional effect. Artists create unique results by applying thick paint, which retains its shape, resulting in visible brush strokes and texture. Alternatively, paint can be applied to a textured surface. 

A prime example of actual texture in art is Anish Kapoor's sculpture, Cloud Gate, located in the heart of Chicago. Created in 2004, this bean-shaped work of public art is one of the largest permanent outdoor art installations in the world.

Viewers experience its real texture through sight and touch, as the surface is highly polished and reflects the city's skyline. The reflective quality, inspired by liquid mercury, captures the sky above the park and creates an inviting entrance for visitors, which influenced Kapoor's choice to name the piece Cloud Gate.

Another example of actual texture is the thick, heavy application of paint known as impasto. This technique is evident in Robert Ryman's work, Untitled, where the subject matter focuses on the brushstrokes and their relationship to the canvas.

Impasto, derived from the Italian word for "mixture," describes the method of applying paint thickly to a surface, leaving visible brush and palette knife marks that add texture to the artwork.

Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night features a thick application of oil paint, showcasing this textured technique. 

Similarly, Michelangelo's Pietà, completed in 1499 and located in the Vatican, demonstrates the artist's passion for his medium and faith. The texture of the carved marble makes the human forms appear warm and lifelike, rather than cold and rigid like stone, leading some to describe it as "sublime perfection."

Why Is Texture Important in Art?

Texture is a powerful tool for artists, enhancing the depth and visual appeal of their artwork. 

Some advantages of using texture in art include:

By combining different textures into their pieces, artists can create unique effects that engage viewers and stimulate emotions. Techniques such as drybrush and impasto add a special touch, transforming ordinary art into something extraordinary.

An example of texture in art is film grain in photography and cinematography. Grain adds both texture and physicality to an image, similar to how texture is employed in painting.

Texture can produce depth, dimensions, shadows, highlights, or abstract patterns, fostering subtle shifts in colour and tone. This variability can evoke strong emotions and add complexity to the artwork, especially in two-dimensional forms like paintings and photography.

Texture helps to draw attention by emphasising certain elements of a piece and creating dimension, guiding the viewer's curiosity toward specific areas. This dimension contributes to a sense of authenticity and perspective, making the artwork more engaging.

It adds visual interest and fosters an emotional connection, showcasing the artist's skill. By enhancing dimensions, artists can elevate their work from merely good to truly outstanding.

It creates a sense of physicality. Texture introduces an illusion of 3-D surfaces and shapes that viewers can see and almost feel. Its physicality makes the artwork more natural, immersive, and engrossing.

What Exactly Is Texture?

Texture is a vital component of art. It helps define form and adds visual interest, giving artwork a sense of depth and complexity that captivates the viewer. Texture breathes life into a painting or sculpture, creating an atmosphere and dialogue between the creator and the audience.

For instance, the texture of grain in a photograph can significantly impact the overall look and feel of the image; a grainy texture can add depth and make the image feel more tangible.

Texture in art engages the senses of sight and touch, referring to the tactile quality of a surface. Artists often create or suggest textures to enhance the sense of realism in their work.

There are two types of texture: visual and actual. Visual texture refers to an implied sense of texture that artists create using lines, shading, and colour. In contrast, actual texture describes the physical rendering or real surface qualities that can be sensed through touch, such as paint application or three-dimensional elements in art.

Various materials are available for creating physical texture, including dry mediums such as sand and marble dust and oil paint mediums like cold wax. It's important to choose a medium and any additives that are compatible with the painting medium you are using, as some mediums work well with oil or acrylic paints but not both.

To achieve physical texture, the mediums used must be viscous enough to hold their shape when wet. For instance, artists can mix cold wax with oil paint to create a thicker consistency that preserves brush strokes on the canvas.

Cold wax dries faster than regular oil paint and holds its shape well. Artists can use contrasting colours to highlight various textures within the painting, creating visual interest and movement. By applying a brush or painting knife, one can achieve a viscous texture on the surface, enhancing the overall depth and uniqueness of the artwork.

Golden gel medium is an excellent choice for adding texture. Artists can mix it into their paint or apply it directly onto the surface of the canvas or panel before painting or drawing on top of it. Golden gel can thicken acrylic paint mixtures, while textured mediums can be used to create a golden moulding paste.

Dust and chalk can also be used to create a coarse texture, giving the surface a sand-like, toothy quality.

Why Do Artists Use Texture?

• A well-chosen texture can turn a flat colour into a weathered surface. This effect can change the entire mood of a piece and make the artwork more immersive, helping viewers connect with it on a deeper level.

• Texture influences an artwork's emotional quality and allows for the communication of profound narratives. The interaction between texture and subject matter builds diverse meanings. For instance, a rose carved on weathered wood evokes contrasting emotions and interpretations as compared to the one painted on smooth paper. 

• Understanding the role of texture helps artists create stronger drawings and paintings. Texture's complex interplay with values enhances the illusion of tactile sensations. Texture transcends the visual realm and elevates art to a multisensory experience. It builds relationships with composition, meaning, and emotion, highlighting a role in the artist's creative palette. 

• By skillfully manipulating texture, artists instil their creations with captivating depth and value. Smooth texture can be useful for painting calm, out-of-focus, dark or distant areas, and thick texture can be useful for painting dramatic, emotional, active or close areas.

How Do You Create Felt Texture in Digital Art? Where Has the Artist Used Texture in Their Piece of Art? Is It Effective?

Digital artists use programs like Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, and Corel Painter, and they have powerful tools tailored to serve different styles and techniques. Felt is a nonwoven soft fabric texture made from interlocked and matted fibres, which is more durable and able to retain shape.

Felt texture can be achieved through various methods. It can be made from real felt photographs, or the felt texture can be added to digital art by adding a layer of Felt Background. Once you get a captured texture, you can import it into your software, adjust it to fit your needs, and use it to enhance your artwork.

Start by experimenting with different brushes, applying filters, and layering colours. Blending and smudging can create a smooth transition between different textures, while adding noise or grain can give your work a gritty, realistic feel.

Create the image using an editing tool where you must add a Pattern Overlay layer style and arrow to Load Patterns, and then select the felt pattern—pat file. One can add a Colour Overlay to the Felt Background layer. 

Experiment with overlaying textures, adjusting their opacity, and blending them to create complex surfaces. Use tools like layer masks and adjustment layers to fine-tune how textures interact with the underlying picture to get precise control over the final look.

Adjusting the opacity, blending modes, and order of layers creates rich, multi-dimensional textures that enhance the depth and realism of your piece.

Felt Photoshop text effect can be created by adding characters and paragraph panels and setting the tracking for the selected characters. Then, one can add a Stroke layer to the Felt Text layer, add Bevel and Emboss layer styles, and convert it to a Smart Object. One can also use the drop shadow, colour overlay, pattern overlay, Bevel, and Emboss to get the felt effect.  

Textured artworks are effective because they invite the viewers to sense touch, closing the gap between sight and physical interaction. 

Explain The Different Techniques That Can Be Used to Create Texture in A Piece of Art.

Artists can explore a wide array of textural effects by experimenting with techniques and materials:

• Applying paint with sponges, spatulas, and even hands results in diverse textures (Example - Helen Frankenthaler (1952) Mountains and Sea)

• Different surfaces like fabric, wood, and stone offer unique textural outcomes. (Example - Keith Haring (1982) Untitled)

• Other artists, like Jackson Pollock, used the sgraffito technique in their paintings. Composition With Sgraffito IV is an excellent example of how this technique can create a sense of movement and energy in a painting.

• One can incorporate sand, plastic, or rubber to add tactile complexity or encourage creative thinking by associating adjectives with images or scenes, guiding artistic textural choices. 

• Several famous artists used texture in their artwork. Van Gogh and Monet both used the impasto technique in their paintings. Pollock’s Number 1a, 1948, used various splatter and mark-making techniques to create a sense of texture and chaos in his art.

Grattage is a technique that Max Ernst applied. He would place objects such as wire mesh on a canvas primed with fresh paint, then lift them to create a relief print. (Example -  ‘La Foret’(1927–28))

Watercolour painting by John Singer Sargent demonstrates the illusion of the rough texture of the land and mountains, but the paint itself is rather smooth. It was accomplished by using colour, contrast and other visual elements. A downside of watercolour painting was that one could not build up a thick physical texture with the paint like you can with oils or acrylics.