Continuing on from last month’s “What’s Up with Texture” article (April 2011), I’ve been asked to expand on the innumerable techniques. I know you have many books on the subject and attend workshops featuring various ways to incorporate more texture in your paintings. It’s almost pointless to list ALL the techniques, but here are two more of my favorites.

Using a straw, blow on very wet, fluid paint to make spidery legs of color. When dried, do more with complementary color, from another direction.

Repeat, building up layers to get the unexpected. It’s all about a string of layers to give you a deep, and richly woven effect. After that, you can continue on to do whatever you intend. I know you already may know this stuff, but it’s cool to do as a series to get you out of the ordinary.

I use strips of newspaper because I like the texture of the typography and the absorption of the newsprint paper. I use gel medium for my glue and thinned down gesso to give the painting a latent image.

At my workshop last week at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops in Greenville, New York, I was introduced to this book about textures:

Surface Treatment Workshop: Explore 45 Mixed-Media Techniques by Darlene Olivia McElroy and Sandra Duran-Wilson
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: North Light Books (May 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1440308241
ISBN-13: 978-1440308246
Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
(buy at Amazon)

Texture! Now go paint!