What is texture and why is it so important in art?

The word texture comes from the Latin term texture , which in turn is formed by textus , which means “fabric” and the suffix -ura , which means “result”, “activity”. Therefore, according to its etymology, texture is the arrangement or organization of the threads that make up a fabric or fabric.

However, the meaning of texture goes beyond fabrics. It can be applied to different materials. Even, it is not only about its external appearance. Texture is also called the treatment performed on an external surface with one or more materials.

Therefore, texture can be defined as a tactile or visual quality or attribute that an object presents on its surface .

texture types

Artists who prefer to use texture as an element in their work generally choose between two methods or incorporate both. These include:

• Visual texture: This type of texture is more traditional and is characterized by imitating textures at a visual level. In this case the work represents one or more textures that can be perceived visually. These are effects or illusions created with different techniques. They can be printed, geometric, shiny, opaque, transparent, iridescent or metallic patterns or designs, among others.
• The tactile texture: Another method is the one that uses the tactile texture, which can be easily felt by touch. To do this, you can use countless materials of different consistency and tools such as spatulas and grids or the incorporation of cloth and other fabrics. The result allows obtaining a texture with rough, rough, soft, smooth, wavy, spongy, hard, soft and other characteristics. Tactile textures can be divided, in turn, into:
  • Natural textures, which are typical of elements found in nature, such as the surface of a leaf or the bark of a tree, the fur of a rabbit, the roughness of a stone or the softness of cotton.
  • Artificial textures, which are those presented by the surfaces of materials created by man, such as the rough surface of a wall covered with cement, a smooth tile, or a paper.

What is the texture for?

In everyday life, we are constantly exposed to different textures through our sense of touch. This is what happens when we grab an object, touch something or get dressed.

Through textures, our sense of touch is stimulated, which can evoke different feelings in us: tranquility, pleasure, familiarity, happiness, discomfort and discomfort, among others.

According to these sensations, we prefer some textures over others, and therefore certain materials and designs over others.

texture in art

In art , texture and other features that we perceive with our senses are used to compose the visual language and convey different impressions.

The textures are intended to provide greater realism to the work and to awaken different sensations. The texture allows you to give shape and volume to the canvas, paper or any other material.

Mainly in painting, as well as in drawing and engraving, it is common to use different techniques to create all kinds of textures. This can be done from the choice of canvases (rougher or softer), the brushstrokes, or the use of materials such as plaster or oil paints.

In addition, the texture is used in order to give specific characteristics to the work. Some of them are:

Expressiveness : the texture is used, mainly, to give a greater expressiveness to the work and in many cases, to cause emotional responses in the people who see it or come into contact with it.

Three-dimensionality : Texture allows you to give a three-dimensional effect to works that are two-dimensional by nature, such as painting or drawing. It is also common to find the use of textures in sculpture or ceramics, through materials such as clay, wood or metals and certain modeling or engraving techniques.

Contrast : The sensation of texture can also be achieved through the handling of light and angles, as is the case with photography, generating different visual contrasts.

Bibliography

• Gombrich, EH The History of Art. (2008). Spain. Phaidon Press.
• dk. The Art Book. (2017). Spain. dk.
• Graham Dixon, A. Art: The Definitive Visual History. (2019. Spain. DK.
• http://art-toolkit.recursos.uoc.edu/es/textura/