Introductory Visual Arts: Visual Elements and Principles Texture Actual vs Implied Tactile vs Visual Collage Impasto Trompe lOeil

What It Is

Texture refers to the surface quality or visual interest created by the artist's use of materials, techniques, or visual elements. It can be actual (tactile) or implied (visual). Texture adds depth, emotion, and meaning to a work of art. For example, Vincent van Gogh's Impasto technique in "The Starry Night" (1889) creates a thick, raised texture that draws the viewer's attention to the swirling clouds and stars.

Key Terms & Techniques

• Actual Texture: tactile quality of a surface, created by materials or techniques. Example: rough stone sculpture.
• Implied Texture: visual suggestion of texture, created by visual elements or techniques. Example: a painting of a rough sea.
• Tactile Texture: actual, physical quality of a surface. Example: a sculpture with a rough, rocky surface.
• Visual Texture: implied, visual suggestion of texture. Example: a painting of a smooth, glassy surface.
• Collage: art technique involving the arrangement of materials (paper, fabric, etc.) to create a new composition. Example: Pablo Picasso's "Still Life with Chair Caning" (1912).
• Impasto: thick, raised texture created by applying paint or other materials in heavy layers. Example: Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" (1889).
• Trompe l'Oeil: art technique creating a highly realistic, three-dimensional illusion on a two-dimensional surface. Example: a painting of a realistic fruit bowl.
• Relief: three-dimensional sculpture with raised elements, often created by carving or modeling. Example: ancient Egyptian tomb reliefs.
• Bas-Relief: low-relief sculpture with raised elements, often created by carving or modeling. Example: ancient Greek temple friezes.
• Chiaroscuro: artistic technique using strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and texture. Example: Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" (1503-1506).
• Hatching: artistic technique using closely spaced lines to create a sense of texture and shading. Example: Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" (1642).
• Cross-Hatching: artistic technique using layers of hatching lines to create a sense of texture and shading. Example: Michelangelo's "Sistine Chapel Ceiling" (1508-1512).
• Pointillism: artistic technique using small dots of color to create a sense of texture and visual interest. Example: Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" (1886).
• Frottage: artistic technique using rubbing or scraping to create a sense of texture and visual interest. Example: Max Ernst's "The Elephant Celebes" (1921).
• Papier-Mâché: art technique involving the application of paper pulp or strips to create a new surface or shape. Example: ancient Greek and Roman sculptures.
• Gesso: art material used to create a smooth, white surface for painting or drawing. Example: medieval illuminated manuscripts.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Texture is only tactile.
• Correction: Texture can be actual (tactile) or implied (visual). Example: a painting of a rough sea creates an implied texture.
• Misunderstanding: Collage is only a technique for creating abstract art.
• Correction: Collage is a versatile technique used in various art styles, from abstract to representational. Example: Pablo Picasso's "Guernica" (1937) uses collage to create a powerful anti-war statement.
• Misunderstanding: Impasto is only used in abstract art.
• Correction: Impasto is used in various art styles, from abstract to representational. Example: Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" (1889) uses impasto to create a dynamic, expressive landscape.

Quick Identification

1. An artwork features a raised, three-dimensional surface created by applying paint or other materials in heavy layers. What is the technique used to create this texture? Answer: Impasto. Reason: Impasto involves applying materials in heavy layers to create a raised, three-dimensional surface.
2. A painting of a realistic fruit bowl creates a highly realistic, three-dimensional illusion on a two-dimensional surface. What is the art technique used to create this illusion? Answer: Trompe l'Oeil. Reason: Trompe l'Oeil involves creating a highly realistic, three-dimensional illusion on a two-dimensional surface.
3. A sculpture features a low-relief surface with raised elements, often created by carving or modeling. What is the type of sculpture? Answer: Bas-Relief. Reason: Bas-relief involves creating a low-relief surface with raised elements.

Last‑Minute Revision

• ⚠️ Impasto is not the same as Relief. Impasto involves applying materials in heavy layers, while relief involves creating a three-dimensional surface.
• Trompe l'Oeil is not the same as Sfumato. Trompe l'Oeil involves creating a highly realistic, three-dimensional illusion, while sfumato involves creating a soft, hazy effect.
• Pointillism is not the same as Frottage. Pointillism involves using small dots of color, while frottage involves rubbing or scraping to create a sense of texture.
• Gesso is not the same as Tempera. Gesso is a material used to create a smooth surface, while tempera is a type of paint.
• Collage is not the same as Assemblage. Collage involves arranging materials to create a new composition, while assemblage involves creating a new object by combining existing materials.
• Hatching is not the same as Cross-Hatching. Hatching involves using closely spaced lines to create a sense of texture and shading, while cross-hatching involves using layers of hatching lines.
• Vincent van Gogh used Impasto in "The Starry Night" (1889).
• Pablo Picasso used Collage in "Still Life with Chair Caning" (1912).
• Leonardo da Vinci used Chiaroscuro in "Mona Lisa" (1503-1506).
• Georges Seurat used Pointillism in "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" (1886).
• Max Ernst used Frottage in "The Elephant Celebes" (1921).