Visual Problems in Texture

Introduction:

“Texture refers to the surface quality of objects. Texture appeals to our sense of touch. Even when we do not actually feel an object, our memory provides a sensory reaction or sensation of touch…all objects have some surface quality, even if it is only an unrelieved smooth flatness”.

—Design Basics, Chapter 9

Application:

The following exercises and project are designed to give the student both short-term and long-term experiences in creating actual and implied textures. Four individual exercises require students to explore various types of actual textures. Students will also practice different ways of creating implied textures on two dimensional surfaces. One project encourages students to synthesize disparate textures and, at the same time, assure compositional unity. Students render their texture projects in a professional manner with media used in the field of design, including the computer. The final results are critiqued by their classmates and by their instructor.

Traditional Media

Find six actual textures from the natural world and everyday mass-produced objects. Compose these textures made from various materials, i.e., paper, sticks, cardboard, screen, bark, tinfoil, plastic, etc., into geometric shapes with a variety of values and colors.

With pencil or pen and ink, draw six different textures, three from nature and three from industry. The emphasis should be on creating implied textures which are convincing to the eye.

Create an example of visual texture with acrylic paint on canvas board or illustration board. Experimentation with different techniques of paint application is encouraged.

Draw a pattern with black drawing ink on white illustration board which evokes a strong sense of touch. Both the repetition and variation of the pattern should be included to provide textural contrast.

Electronic Media

Locate six to ten actual textures from the natural world and mass-produced objects used in our daily lives. Photograph and/or scan these textures with computer software such as Adobe Photoshop. Compose these textures made from paper, sticks, cardboard, screen, bark, tinfoil, plastic, etc., into geometric shapes with a variety of values and colors.

Using a drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator, draw six different textures, three from natural objects and three from industry. These implied textures should be convincing to the eye in terms of their source and in terms of evoking a sense of touch.

Select and draw textures to create a specific mood. The Eye of Silence by Max Ernst found in the text is a good example of texture used to express a "weird, frightening atmosphere". Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop can be used to create a mood utilizing textures that are scanned or drawn, then composed electronically. Textural qualities can also be enhanced in these programs by using their "filters" and "patterns" functions.

Build a pattern, utilizing the drawing tools in Adobe Illustrator, which evokes a strong sense of touch. The emphasis should be on value contrast and repetitious lines and shapes.

Project:

Goal: To design a collage utilizing objects found in the immediate surroundings of the individual student. The element of texture must be emphasized in this collage.

Materials:

A. Traditional design media that will be employed in the execution of this project.

Illustration, bristol, or masonite board approximately 12"x15".

Paper, wood, metal, plastic, etc—objects found in the immediate environment or household.

Elmers or some other brand of all-purpose glue.

Variety of acrylic paints, brushes, and mediums.

B. Electronic design software such as: Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop. Project can be designed and rendered either with traditional media or electronic (computer) software. It is also possible to mix traditional and electronic media. For example, a student could use traditional media (found objects, materials) for most textures and utilize Photoshop to create unusual surface textures with the "filters" function.

Guidelines:

At least three actual textures found on objects or materials in the natural environment or in industry must be glued to the background board (12"x15").

At least three implied textures must be drawn from objects found in nature, e.g., bark, rocks, feathers, hair, fur, etc. Various drawing techniques are encouraged.

There should be an attempt to create a balance of textures by utilizing the principles of contrast and repetition.

Develop a focal point in the textural composition with contrast, placement, or isolation.

Develop a hierarchy of "readability" where the eye goes first to the focal point and then expands outward, in a spiraling fashion, to other areas of the composition.

Chapter 10. Illusion of space

Assignment 1. Read the text of Chapter 10 and do the following:

1. List and define the different methods for creating the illusion of space.

2. Demonstrate one-point, two-point and multipoint perspective.

3. Define the difference between open and closed form.

Assignment 2. Oral Quiz. Express your views working in groups (see Glossary below).

1. What is the easiest method for creating the illusion of depth? Give an example of how you might use it.

2. Describe how to use relative size to show depth.

Glossary

Aerial perspective The perception of less distinct contours and value contrasts as forms recede into the background. Colors appear to be washed out in the distance or take on the color of the atmosphere.

Amplified perspective A dynamic and dramatic illusionistic effect created when an object is pointed directly at the viewer.

Closed form The placement of objects by which a composition keeps the viewer’s attention within the picture.

Equivocal space An ambiguous space in which it is hard to distinguish the foreground from the background. Your perception seems to alternate from one to the other.

Hieratic scale A composition in which the size of figures is determined by their thematic importance.

Horizon line The farthest point we can see where the delineation between the sky and ground becomes distinct. The line on the picture plane that indicates the extent of illusionistic space and on which are located the vanishing points.

Isometric projection A spatial illusion that occurs when lines receding on the diagonal remain parallel instead of converging toward a common vanishing point. Used commonly in Oriental and Far Eastern art.

Juxtaposition When one image or shape is placed next to or in comparison to another image or shape.

Linear perspective A spatial system used in two-dimensional artworks to create the illusion of space. It is based on the perception that if parallel lines are extended to the horizon line, they appear to converge and meet at a common point, called the vanishing point.

Multipoint perspective A system of spatial illusion with different vanishing points for different sets of parallel lines.

One-point perspective A system of spatial illusion in two-dimensional art based on the convergence of parallel lines to a common vanishing point usually on the horizon.

Open form The placement of elements in a composition so that they are cut off by the boundary of the design. This implies that the picture is a partial view of a larger scene.

Overlapping A device for creating an illusion of depth in which some shapes are in front of and partially hide or obscure others.

Picture plane The two-dimensional surface on which shapes are organized into a composition.

Translucent A situation in which objects, forms, or planes transmit and diffuse light but have a degree of opacity that does not allow clear visibility through the form.

Vanishing point In linear perspective, the point at which parallel lines appear to converge on the horizon line. Depending on the view there may be more than one vanishing point.

Vertical location A spatial device in which elevation on the page or format indicates a recession into depth. The higher an object, the farther back it is assumed to be.

Assignment 3. Do the tutorial quiz

1. The frontal plane of the painting is called the … .

2. When the artist uses objects that are larger in size to represent things that are closer to the foreground and objects that are smaller to represent things further away, this is to create the … .

3. The easiest method for creating the illusion of depth is … .

4. In the past, painters used what to show importance of a character such as the king or Jesus?

5. When you can see the complete object it is considered in front. When there is the illusion of depth on a 2-D surface and spatial recession, the technique is called … .

6. The technique of was widely used in the Near East and Oriental art to depict the distance of an object from the foreground.

7. When two forms overlap, and yet both can be seen clearly it is called .

8. … creates “Purposeful ambiguity”; it is not clear what object is in front or behind or which objects overlap.

9. Equivocal Space creates what is called a … an example of an artist who used this technique is Rene Magritte.

10. The use of color or value to show depth is called … .

11. As parallel lines recede, they appear to converge and to meet on an imaginary line called the horizon. This is referred to as … perspective.

12. Parallel lines come together at the same place in infinity called the … .

13. … uses more than two vanishing points.

14. … is like foreshortening. The object closest to the camera or artist is very large and rest of the figure or scene is small in the background.

15. When several different views are combines in one image it is called … perspective.

16. When parallel lines remain parallel and do not recede to a vanishing point it is referred to as … .

17. … form is the concept of "enclosure", a complete or partial view of a scene.

18. … is a border around the perimeter that visually turns the eye inward.

19. Name the term for when an object either breaks out of the frame or pulls the viewer's eye off.

20. When the picture and the object lead the viewer's eye back into the picture it is called … .

21. True or False: Thing that are closer are larger; as they move further away they get smaller.

a. True

b. False

22. True or False: When using the technique referred to as vertical location, objects lower in the picture frame are considered "closer."

a. True

b. False

23. True or False: Vertical Location is based on the way we see things. We see things at the ground level first, and then we look up.

a. True

b. False

24. True or False: The horizon line is always in the center of the composition.

a. True

b. False

25. True or False: Color or value becomes more emphasized as an object recedes.

a. True

b. False

26. True or False: Perspective can act as a unifying factor and add a dynamic quality.

a. True

b. False

27. There are 8 different devices to show depth. Which of the following is not one?

a. Overlapping

b. One Point Perspective

c. Three Point Perspective

d. Vertical Location

e. Two Point Perspective

28. Examples of artwork that is 3-dimensional include all of the following except:

a. Ceramics

b. Architecture

c. Jewelry

d. Weaving

e. Illustration

29. As objects become further and further away they do all of the following except:

a. Edges become sharper

b. Turn blue gray and fade

c. Contours become less distinct

d. Become smaller in size

30. According to the author, which is more natural?

a. Amplified Perspective

b. Two Point Perspective

c. One Point perspective

d. Multipoint Perspective

31. Which type of perspective can create a disorienting or anxious feeling in the viewer?

a. One Point perspective

b. Amplified Perspective

c. Two Point Perspective

d. Multipoint Perspective

32. Which type of perspective gives a dramatic, dynamic quality?

a. Two Point Perspective

b. One Point perspective

c. Multipoint Perspective

d. Amplified Perspective

33. Which type of perspective quickly pulls the viewer into the picture?

a. Multipoint Perspective

b. Two Point Perspective

c. Amplified Perspective

d. One Point perspective

34. Which type of form creates a casual, momentary feeling?

a. Closed Form

b. Open Form

35. Which type of form creates a formal, structured appearance?

a. Open Form

b. Closed Form

Class project