Texture Art Guide

In 2016, I began painting abstract art to express myself. I added depth to my art by experimenting with various paint mediums. From there, my creativity exploded on canvas as I painted colorful, textured artwork. Today, everyone on social media is trying their hand at texture art. Seeing others embrace this art form that I have come to love is exciting.

There is no right or wrong way to make art. However, there are practices you can implement to produce art that is not only beautiful but high-quality and archival.

Maybe you want to start painting texture art or already do and want to take your art practice seriously. In this blog post, I will give you three tips on how to create texture art. Continue reading for details!

3 Tips to Create Beautiful Texture Art

1. Use artist-grade gels and pastes.

Using artist-grade gels and pastes such as modeling paste, heavy gel, and other volume-building mediums is essential when creating textured paintings. There is no way around this. These mediums are specifically formulated for the creation of paintings. The artwork I made 6 years ago with these materials is in perfect condition. Using anything other than artist-grade mediums can lead to paintings that shrink, crack, or chip over time. It does not matter what your favorite social media artist says – leave the joint compound, spackle, and plaster for home renovation projects.

I know what you’re thinking: “Sharifa, these gels and pastes are so expensive!”. The price is worth the quality of art that you will achieve. Read my post, “5 Ways to Craft on a Budget,” to learn how to get the best art supplies without breaking the bank.

2. Experiment with color.

Add more character to your paintings by incorporating color. Many artists create the texture first and then layer color on top of it. You can also mix acrylic paint directly into modeling paste and heavy gel. This is what I do. Overall, color will take your texture paintings to the next level.  

3. Consider your surface.

Apply your paint to a strong and sturdy surface. The canvas should be tightly wrapped. It should stay firm as you press into it. A loosely stretched canvas can lead to cracked texture paintings even when using appropriate materials. Art panels are another option. They are made of primed wood or hardboard. I recently switched from canvas to art panels. I can confidently add layers of paint without wondering if they will seep through the surface. My paintings on art panels are more resilient and vibrant than my canvas paintings.

There is so much that I can share with you about creating texture paintings. Would you enjoy a step-by-step guide on how to make texture art? Let me know in the comments below!