Project- Implied and Tactile Collages

The next project will be working with collages, both implied and tactile.  

Visual collages actually use more rubbings and collections of images to create the feeling of texture rather than actually making texture. 

Tactile collages can use textured paper and other three-dimensional materials (like string, cardboard, sandpaper, etc.) to make a tactile surface.

The actual surface texture needs to either be felt, or seen with light raking across its surface to make the texture visible. Painters are most likely to take advantage of this to give their painting's surface a lively look. Paint can be built up into rough peaks in a technique called impasto. Vincent Van Gogh is famous for this. Some painters add sand to their paint to make more tactile texture.

Example of using Actual/tactile texture to create a design

Both types of texture are important to the designer, but in 2D art, the illusion of texture is used more than tactile texture. 

Visual texture is always a factor in a composition because everything has a surface and hence a texture. Texture is one of the more subtle design elements. It can make an image richer and more interesting, but is not likely to save a poor composition all by itself.

An example of using pattern and line to create texture in a design

Most textures have a naturalistic quality; they repeat a motif in a random way. A motif is any recurring thematic element or repeated figure in design. It could be an object, shape, color, direction, etc. With a texture you may be aware of the repeating motif but you are more aware of the surface.

PATTERN


A recognizable motif regularly repeated produces a pattern. Pattern requires repetition- in design as in life (a pattern of behavior). The more regular the repetition, the stronger the pattern.

Texture and pattern are related. When you look closely at a tree you can see the pattern of leaves that make its surface. When you back away you loose awareness of the leaves and notice the texture the leaves make on the tree. Farther away still and you can see the pattern of the trees making up the forest and finally the texture of the forest.

In this way pattern changes to texture as you loose sight of the individual motifs. This is easy to do with natural patterns, but you have to get quite far away from a checkerboard grid to see it as texture.

Another example of using line and pattern to create texture in a design

Patterns are generally more noticeable than textures. This makes them a stronger visual element for controlling attention. 

Project 1- Visual Texture

To create a collage using texture from rubbings and photographs.

An 11"x 17" piece of white paper
Glue
Scissors
Coloured pencils
Found texture

Experiment with several types of texture, creating rubbings. Also look through magazines and photographs to create interest in your collage. Use your own imagination using pattern to create texture in your piece. Create your own textures by drawing and making your own patterns.


This project will be presented on a black matte board with at least an inch frame around your page.


Project 2- Tactile Texture Collage

This time you will be creating a collage, but this time using actual/tactile texture. You will also be creating pattern in your design.

Use your own imagination to create texture in your piece. Create your own textures by drawing and painting your own patterns and texture. Also gather found objects and create your tactile texture you will apply to your design.

An 11"x 11" piece of heavy white paper

Glue

Scissors

Coloured pencils

Paint

Found texture

This project will be presented on a 13" x 13" Matte board (black).