Textured painting involves using a variety of materials and approaches to create interesting visual and physical textures. Brushes are used in combination with palette knives and other materials to create textures. The texture itself can be created in a variety of formats. Many textural patterns and styles are available through the use of certain materials and processes.
Materials
Textured painting requires lots of paint. Oil paint works best for creating texture when using only the paint. Texture may also be created through the use of rough surfaces applied to the canvas. The canvas should be wrapped over a board for such applications. To apply paint one brushstroke at a time, in the likes of Vincent Van Gogh, use a small, stiff-bristled flat brush. Many artists who work with texture on a two-dimensional surface use a set of palette knives. Palette knives come in a variety of shapes that relate to how they are used to apply and scrape paint. Large brushes are also recommended to apply areas of paint that may then be manipulated with a palette knife or other material to achieve a rich texture.
Visual and Physical Texture
Before applying paint, it may be helpful to delineate the forms that are to be painted. Use a light-colored pencil to draw the shapes of the forms that are to be painted. It helps to have an outline to follow as a guide when applying paint. When applying the paint for texture, it is further helpful to use two or three colors together slightly mixed so that streaks of other colors show up in the main color. One color is the base, while one or more colors are added to the base in smaller amounts to create a visually dynamic texture. Two or more colors are placed onto the palette, and a palette knife is used to mix them together slightly. The original colors are visible in the paint mixture, which helps to create a rich visual texture in addition to a nice physical texture. Many textures can be created by using the edges, points and round parts of palette knives. These are essential for textured painting.
Other Techniques and Guidelines
Another way to paint with texture is to fill in all of the outlined areas with solid colors. Then, scraps of cardboard with light dabs of contrasting paint colors may be applied to individual color areas to add visual and physical texture simultaneously. Careful attention to the edge of the cardboard and the amount of paint on the cardboard is important. If there is too much paint, and the colors are wrong, one can always use a palette knife to scrape off the paint from an area and begin again. Experiment with a variety of palette knives and rough-edged materials such as combs, sponges, scraps of board or cloth, or pieces of plastic. Use these items to create a unique textured feel for the artwork. Consider the entire composition, and don't get too focused on one part. Move around the painting. All of the parts of the painting should evolve simultaneously.
