Texture is an important artistic element that engages the sense of touch in addition to sight. Artists can recreate or add real textures to stimulate viewers' tactile senses. Texture is created by modifying the light on a surface through techniques like hammering, carving, or embossing, and it can quickly evoke memories and emotions in viewers.

1. Texture

3. • A valuable element in the artist’s
codebook is texture because it engages
another sense besides sight.

4. • Texture is “tactile,” that is, it appeals to our
sense of touch.

5. • Artists know this element can appeal to
viewers and may try to recreate the illusion
of texture, or add real texture to stimulate
our tactile nature.

6. • Texture is related to value, in that it’s
created by modifying the light on a surface
(review the element of VALUE). We don’t
need to touch a shiny silver bowl to know
its surface is hard, smooth, and polished.

7. • But we can “sense” a crumpled piece of
paper’s texture because of the hundreds
of broken, abrupt value changes.

8. • In sculpture, hammering, carving,
embossing or molding the surface of the
material adds texture.

9. • Texture is a powerful art element because
it can quickly evoke memories and
emotions

10. • . Start becoming more aware of textures
all around you—the carpet, in the clothes
you’re wearing, and the fur on your cat.

11. • Finally, look carefully to see how Vincent
van Gogh created unique texture in his
painting of sunflowers