Today is about texture. There are very simple ways to add texture and there are more advanced ways that are still very simple.
Anything you do that adds layers is going to add texture. Anything you do to add bumps, lumps or dents in the surface of your artwork will also add texture.
You can add tape, use your finger and dab paint on so that it leaves tiny little mountains (or great big ones… those are even better.)You can also glue things like beads and buttons and strings to the surface of the card to add texture.
You can use texture to create a picture by rubbing the side of a crayon on paper set on top of a really textured surface… I’ve done this with concrete, bricks, pasta drainers, hot pads, mouse pads, coins from my purse and keys and buttons and… you get the idea. 😀
You can also “emboss” items by rubbing them down into a textured surface with the back end of a round paintbrush or bottom of a plastic paint bottle or chap stick lid or back of a spoon if that’s what you have handy.
Here are some examples from pieces that I am making for this event.
crayons, tissue paper, a stamp and a glue stick, then filled in a couple of butterflies with white glue and let it dry… gentle texture
embossed over the bottom of a plastic basket then used my finger to add bumpy texture and dry brush pink glued on a button and drew flower petals with elmer’s glue and then used acrylic paint and my finger and sprayed bright yellow watercolor on it before adding pen
polymer clay written on with a toothpick, rolled onto a honeycomb hot pad multiple directions and stamped with a ruler that has raised numbers and marks. dry brush and fingers to add color in layers and get black to stay down in the grooves and color on top.
Experiment… by using a dry brush you can bring out the natural texture on an item and by barly brushing the surface with the paint so that the color only “lands” on the top of the texture and leaves all the lower places the original color.
EXPERT TIP: use your fingers whenever possible… it is much easier for your fingers to leave “too much paint” so that you get texture and you can feel when you’ve created mini mountains or left paint on only the high parts of textured or embossed.
