Three Ways to Add Texture

Adding texture to my paintings is an integral part of my creative process and there are many ways I go about it. Here are three I use frequently:

1. Sandpaper

This is my go-to for adding dimension to a painting. I sand away areas of the painting to reveal different layers and colours underneath. In the example below, the silver metallic area is broken up with sandpaper, making the light more intricate and seamlessly integrating it with the rest of the painting.

2. Infrared Paint Drying Lamp

This tool is particularly useful in humid climates where the colours of the paints blend if it takes too long to dry. By heating the paint with a lamp, I can quickly and safely lock in individual colours. An added advantage (at least to me!) of this technique is the bubbling effect that can occur; creating a look that I can develop with different glazes to differentiate areas of the painting.

3. Water spray

Acrylic paints can dry quickly, so I often use water sprays to keep the surface wet while painting. Spraying the paint under pressure allows me to break up the surface into pits which can be painted or glazed over, adding texture and colour depths.

From sandpaper to drying lamp to water sprays, I have developed a variety of proven methods to add texture to my artwork. If you have any questions or have spotted some of this texture in one of my paintings, I'd love to hear from you!

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