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Texturing Techniques

Students will learn about art techniques that convey a sense of texture and then create artwork that illustrates the methods.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • Ruler

Steps

  • Step 1

    Adding texture to art can create a sense of depth, and there are several techniques that help achieve this. There is the impasto technique, which creates a literal texture when thick layers of paint are applied to a canvas. And there are also techniques that give the illusory appearance of texture. Examples include cross hatching (two groups of parallel lines drawn across each other) and stippling (using small dots such as in pointillism). Have students investigate these techniques and how they contribute to the overall look of a piece of art. Ask students to look at examples in noted works. Cross hatching can be found in "Profile of an Old Man" (c. 1505) by Leonardo da Vinci or "Melencolia I" (1514) by Albrecht Dürer (an artist who is known for using the cross hatching technique). Stippling can be seen in works such as "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" (1884-86) by Georges Seurat or "Young Shepherd" (1509-12) by Giulio Campagnola.

  • Step 2

    Ask students to experiment with the various texturing techniques, many of which are demonstrated in this lesson's image. Ask them to examine the art posted in this lesson and identify ways they could incorporate a similar variety of techniques in their art. 

  • Step 3

    Ask students to utlize a few of the techniques they experimented with as they create the illusion of  textures in their drawing. For example, what if they placed the drawing paper over a textured surface like rough cement to form a background that appears airy like a cotton ball? What if they used many small dots to create a pointillism section? And how could a closely aligned series of crossing lines made using a ruler add another type of texture to their art?

  • Step 4

    Have students present their work and discuss how they were able to create an illusory sense of texture using different art techniques.

Standards

ARTS: Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches. 

ARTS: Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art.

Adaptations

Challenge students to create texture in a monochromatic drawing by using different amounts of pressure and layers of the same color to create the illusion of depth or texture.

Set up a still life using a few items of different textures and have students try to depict the textures as realistically as possible. Suggestions might include a fuzzy stuffed animal, a dimpled orange or pineapple, a pine cone, and a shiny marble.