TEXTURE

Texture

We love texture, not only the kind that we can touch but visual texture too. Feeling stuff is a part of the process of engaging with things, like touching the material of clothing we are about to buy - it’s a layer of liking. I wonder how many art lovers have restrained themselves in the gallery from touching a painting they loved, but then were all over it once it was taken home. Why not! It’s easy to think that texture just means those lumpy bits of paint or thick brush strokes but it’s more than that. The flattest water colour painting can have texture, but it’s not texture as it’s normally understood. Texture is seen in the flattest painting in the form of layering and this seen particularly in transparent water colour.  This type of texture is an illusion, but texture, none the less. In oil or acrylic painting, texture can be added to the under painting or gesso, and this will show in the final painting as texture. I know some who object to this form of texture, arguing that it is only the texture of the final painting that is important – but there are no rules on this, and as far as I know, no punishments either! Under-painted texture can be very attractive. Painted texture is becoming very popular too. I came across it many years ago in the 80s, where one particular artist, whose name I can’t remember, specialised in gum trees, knife-painted with thick juicy oil paint – they were marvellous and I haven’t seen anything like it since. On the downside, highly textured art can become an end in itself without much artistry, but still, people like it – we just love texture. Interestingly, most texture is uncontrived, whether as an under painting or final painting. They are swathes of the knife or bold strokes of the brush and as such add energy and interest. They are not put there with a fiddly little brush and pained concentration, they are free, bold and an indication that the artist was having fun - the kind of joy people like to take home and hang on the wall.  

Happy Painting!

Mike Barr

Detail of one my textured knife paintings – One Way The use of knife without reverting to the brush really gives this painting amazing energy.