Creating Texture in Your Art – Nicholas Wilton and Terri Froelich – Ep 62

Have you ever walked around barefoot? It’s Day 4 in Sayulita, Mexico and I can’t get enough of how visually and texturally rich this place is. From the sand between my bare toes to the colorful tropical flowers, it’s a feast for the senses. Admittedly, I have textures on the brain because I’m about to teach a workshop on it. But don’t worry, you’re coming too! Join Terri and me as we share our thoughts and techniques around texture and how to use it to enhance your work in wonderful and sometimes unexpected ways.

Listen if you are interested in…

• Defining texture and how to choose it [5:50]
• Using collage to create texture [12:43]
• Exploring image transfer [23:00]
• Embracing the randomness of texture [29:49]

It’s about feeling

Deciding what techniques to use in your art is a lot like standing in line at a buffet. There are tons of options, but not all of them are for you. And like a buffet, you can try a little bit of everything to see what you like in your art practice. But ultimately, you want these things to add to your art. This is especially true with texture! Texture is all about feeling. Literally and figuratively. It’s about the feeling of the thing you’re making. Nobody can argue with feeling. If something feels right to you, then it is. 

Texture is more than deciding whether something should be rough or smooth. Its power comes from choosing when to use it. Every artist should strive for authenticity, but overly textured work comes across as gimmicky. When I think of texture, I have memories associated with textures. Think about a sensation you love. Maybe it’s the warm inviting water of a hot tub on a winter day. Perhaps the feeling of a soft blanket on the couch after a long day’s work. Conjuring a familiar feeling instantly drops us into that moment. When we feel something, it connects us. It’s powerful. This is how we should use texture in our work. What are the textures that relate to feeling playful? What textures invoke feelings of isolation or vulnerability? Think about the feelings you want to express and bring those textures into the work. When we connect with our art on such a deep level, we show everyone who we are through it. Thus, attracting the people who will relate to us the most and buy our work.

Staying open to new possibilities

One of the great things about using texture and collage is the randomness that can occur. I’m always amazed at the elements people choose to bring into their work and how it perfectly fits. Texture broadens your work and makes it more universal because it’s of the world. The more open and spacious you are, the more you can let in what will enrich your creations. Sometimes we are too strict with ourselves. You don’t have to paint everything by hand. Put yourself in situations where something new can happen in your art and life. Art-making is about being receptive. There’s a give and a take that happens in the process of creation. Texture and collage are exciting because they give you the opportunity to bring change to your art if you want it. And even if you don’t, give it a try! It may be the thing you didn’t know you needed. Listen to this episode for more practical insight on using texture in your work!

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