Applying Texture
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Using Masking Tape for Textured Patterns
Masking tape is a really useful tool in painting I find, whether you just create patterns and paint over it, mask off edges of the painting to frame it or maybe use texture. In the past I have created a few paintings that have had a specific part of the painting that has raised texture using masking tape, maybe just to emphasise a feature in the painting. I have also used this method just to add some extra shapes to an abstract painting. So I have created a quick video to show how I use this technique – in this case I am creating a small painting with a raised,…
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Creating a Textured Abstract Painting
Ok so I have finished the video of the creation of a new painting for my lounge. Obviously I couldn’t video every minute of creating the painting as the video would have been too long! Often I spent time just painting over and over to get the right effect. For me the key here is layers of paint, the more layers the better, until you feel like it is finished. The other key point is not to add any colour neat (apart from white), always try and partially mix it with another colour. This is the finished result, it is similar in style to the header image on this website:…
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Tissue Paper for Texture
If you want a quick and easy way to add texture to your paintings then you can use tissue (the type you blow your nose on!) or tissue paper. ideally you would use PVA to apply the tissue to the canvas but if you don’t have any then you can just use acrylic paint. Either put the tissue on top of the wet paint or add the tissue to the paint and apply it to the canvas – you could also add a little water if it is a bit thick with the tissue in. Just leave it to dry (ideally overnight) and you have a good base to paint…
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Using Tissue in Paintings
Another item that I use to make texture in paintings is just plain tissue. I’m talking about the tissues you use to blow your nose on but you can use any other type of tissue really.
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Using Old Paint
Don’t forget that as well as using a base coat of a thick texture or texture paste, or adding some kind of texture to your paint – like sand or powdered plaster, that you can create some extra texture on a painting just by using old paint. If you have any left over paint on your palette (and this can be acrylic or oil paint) then scrape it all off into an old plastic pot and keep hold of it.
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Best Implement to Apply Texture
If you are applying a heavy texture to your canvas then the best way of applying this – whether you want the texture to be quite smooth or very rough – is to use a cake slice. This one is almost the exact one that I use and you need a very sturdy one so that the handle does not bend (I did have a cheap one but the handle kept bending to the point where it broke) under the pressure of the texture. Scoop the texture up as if you are going to ice a cake, and apply it in a similar way. You can use this cake slice…
