The Formal Elements TEXTURE

Copy a basket texture. In the review handout provided, draw from life or a photo a basket texture See example at right DUE: Next lesson

What is Texture? TEXTURES are "surface" designs which support the illusion of real objects or subjects. When you touch an object (e.g. a piece of furniture, books, candles, papers, etc.), you can immediately sense its texture from the nature of its surface, which could be smooth, rough, supple, soft, hard, metallic, dull, etc. Texture could be shown either visually or by touching. You can add texture to 2-d paintings by using the painting tools in various ways for creating color layers of different densities. Lines and shadings are included for adding texture but also for making the painting or drawing lifelike.

What kinds of textures are displayed here? Write down as many as you can see, and more.

Actual Texture Artists often add real textures to their artwork. They use tree bark or sandpaper to illustrate an idea or concept. Artists call these "actual textures.” Actual textures show up in many different types of artwork, but artists often use them in collage. Robert Raushenberg, is one artists who uses cuttings, photographs, clothing, rubbish, newspaper to make sculptural, mixed media pieces.

Simulated Texture Simulated textures imitate the look of a real object through skillful application. These textures show up in many different forms of art including drawings, paintings and computer graphics. 


Surface Rubbings

Homework-Yippee! You will make a surface-texture rubbing piece. Place a piece of white paper over a textured surface. Then, using the side of a pencil, make long strokes across the page. Objects can be placed on a table, such as scraps of bumpy fabric, coins or corrugated cardboard for the students to experiment. Create rubbings of a variety of everyday surfaces such as clothing, walls, tree bark. You may use several colours when making rubbings. This collection of rubbings will be your texture references. Fill the page with rubbings.

Which Level are you working towards? You are able to collect at least three rubbings and each one is different. Your collage is limited Level 4 You are able to collect 10 or more rubbings and your collage looks diverse and interesting. Level 5 Your page is full of rubbings. You have a diverse range of textures. Your collage is visually stunning.

Extension Activity Create your own Robert Raushenberg collage using at least 5 different textures. Use A5 paper. See example You could use paint, newspaper, brown paper, fabric, crumpled paper, photographs, and any other material.