Texture (visual arts)

In the visual arts, texture is the perceived surface quality of a work of art. It is an element of two-dimensional and three-dimensional design and is distinguished by its perceived visual and physical properties. Use of texture, along with other elements of design, can convey a variety of messages and emotions.

2D Texture

Physical

Physical texture, also known as actual texture or tactile texture, are the actual variations upon a surface. This can include, but is not limited to, fur, wood grain, sand, smooth surface of canvas or metal, , glass, and leather. It differentiates itself from visual texture by having a physical quality that can be felt by touch. Specific use of a texture can effect the smoothness that an artwork conveys. For instance, use of rough surfaces can be visually active, whilst smooth surfaces can be visually restful. The use of both can give a sense of personality to a design, or utilized to create emphasis, rhythm, contrast, etc.

Light is an important factor for physical artwork, because it can affect how a surface is viewed. Strong lights on a smooth surface can obscure the readability of a drawing or photograph, whilst they can create strong contrasts in a highly texture surface such as moose or pigs.

Visual

Visual texture is the illusion of having physical texture. Every material and every support surface has its own visual texture and needs to be taken into consideration before creating a composition. As such, materials such as canvas and watercolour paper are considerably rougher than, for example, photo-quality computer paper and may not be best suited to creating a flat, smooth texture. Photography, drawings and paintings use visual texture both to portray their subject matter realistically and with interpretation. Texture in these media are generally created by the repetition of shape and line.

Implied texture is a visual texture that has no basis in everyday reality. It is most often utilized in works of abstraction.

Examples of physical texture

• 

  Berlin Green Head, 500BC. Note the smooth texture and mood of the bust.

• 

  Animals are often defined by their physical texture, such as a fuzzy kitten or this scaly iguana.

• 

  Ralph's Diner, Ralph Goings, 1982. The actual physical texture of this painting is smooth, despite its visual textures.

Examples of visual texture

• 

  View From the Window at Le Gras, Nicéphore Niépce, 1826. Photography.

• 

  Canticle, Mark Tobey, 1954. Note the sandy visual texture.

• 

  Cataract 3, Bridget Riley, 1967. Visual texture through repetition of line.

See also

• Composition (visual arts)
• Design elements and principles
• Elements of art
• Texture (painting)

References

• Gatto, Porter, and Selleck. Exploring Visual Design: The Elements and Principles. 3rd ed. Worcester: Davis Publications, Inc., 2000. ISBN 87192-379-3
• Stewart, Mary, Launching the imagination: a comprehensive guide to basic design. 2nd ed. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2006. ISBN 0-07-287061-3