Art Foundations I
Texture
Notes
Texture -The surface character of a material that can be experienced through touch or the illusion of touch. Texture is produced by natural forces or through an artist’s manipulation of the art elements.
Texture can define shape, making it unique- can add tactile experience content (soft, hard, pointy, furry, prickly)
TERMS USED TO DEFINE TEXTURE:
Physical/actual texture-a surface that can be experienced through the sense of touch (as opposed to a surface visually simulated by the artist)
Visual texture- a texture that is experienced through optical perception (an illusion of tactile qualities)
Natural texture-Texture created as the result of nature’s processes.
Simulated texture- a convincing copy or translation of an object’s texture in any medium
Abstract texture- a texture derived from the appearance of an actual surface but arranged and/or simplified by the artist to satisfy the demands of the artwork
Invented texture- a created texture whose only source is in the imagination of the artist. Generally a decorative pattern, it should not be confused with abstract texture.
Collage- a technique of picture making in which real materials possessing actual textures are attached on the picture plane surface, often in combination with painted or drawn passages.
Pattern- 1. Any artistic design (something serving as a model of imitation). 2. A repeated element and/or design that is usually varied and produces interconnections and directional movements.
Tactile- a quality that refers to the sense of touch
Trompe l’oeil- Literally, “deceives the eye”; a painting technique that copies nature with such exactitude as to be mistaken for the real thing.
THE NATURE OF TEXTURE:
“The sense of touch helps to inform us about our immediate surroundings. Our language, through such words as smooth, rough, soft and hard, demonstrates that touch can tell us about the nature on an object.”
Actual texture -“the real thing”- has a natural part of three-dimensional art, but does occur in the graphic arts as well but to a lesser extent.
USE OF TEXTURE IN NATURE:
Engineered texture - form and function: how the texture of animals serves a purpose to that particular animal. Golf ball dimples, radiator, trees/leaves, duck feathers, bear fur, porcupine,
Texture as camouflage/mimicry - “this fakery is an important factor in survival in nature; animals, birds, reptiles, insects, fish, take on the coloration and texture of their surroundings as a protection against predators. Man copies this camouflage method in war in response to the same needs for survival that inspires it in nature.”
ARTISTIC APPLICATION
“The usual artistic application of actual texture involves attaching a textured object or a natural texture to the working surface. When this is done, the texture simply represents itself, although a texture may sometimes be used out of context by displacing an expected texture.”
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Picasso’s use of papier colle (adherence of scraps of paper to the picture plane), Jasper Johns’ flag paintings had a textured painting surface that was created through the heavy application of paint. He use of the materials expressed his concerns for paint quality (the textual character of applied paint, handling paint for its intrinsic character). Collage (an art form where actual textures are applied to the picture surface)
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This led to the application of combination of simulated texture and actual texture to the picture surface, creating a problem that asks the question “What is real?” the artistic elements, the objects or both?
VISUAL TEXTURES
Simulated texture - useful for making things identifiable; moreover, we experience a rich tactile enjoyment when viewing them.
Every surface has characteristic light and dark features as well as reflections. The texture of surfaces is defined by light and shadow. If reproduced with great accuracy the simulated texture will evoke a tactile experience (can be felt but are only visual).
Abstract Texture -simplified textures that are derived from the appearance of an actual surface, Emphasizing pattern.
There is no attempt to fool the eye, the concerns of the artist are to abstractly represent that particular tactile experience and enrich the picture surface. It is also a strong compositional tool, affecting movement and emphasis/dominance.
Invented texture - textures that are purely a product of the artists imagination, they are entirely nonobjective. Can be used to differentiate shape
It is possible for a texture to have no tactile quality, only optical, like the lines of type on a printed page, or polka dots on material, or crosshatched lines in a doodle.