1

LESSON 10 INTRODUCTION TO TEXTURE

STRUCTURE

10.0 OBJECTIVES

10.1 INTRODUCTION

10.2 DEFINITION

10.3 CLASSIFICATION OF TEXTURES

10.3.1 SMOOTH TEXTURES 10.3.2 GRAINY TEXTURES 10.3.3 LIGHT, SOFT AND FLUFFY TEXTURES 10.3.4 ROUGH AND COARSE TEXTURES

10.4 IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING TEXTURES

10.5 EMERGING TRENDS

10.6 ASSIGNMENTS

10.6.1 CLASS ASSIGNMENTS 10.6.2 HOME ASSIGNMENTS

10.7 SUMMING UP

10.8 POSSIBLE ANSWERS TO SELF-CHECK QUESTIONS

10.9 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

10.10 REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER READING

10.11 GLOSSARY

2

10. INTRODUCTION TO TEXTURE

Texture is derived from the word ‘text’ which means matter. It is the essential quality of matter or something, concerned with the characteristic appearance of its surface or the feel of the surface or a fabric having a tactile quality. Unit four is all about ‘Texture’. This lesson deals with the various facets and characteristics of textures and emphasizes the deeper meaning and the relevance of learning about them. The next lesson two lessons tell us how textures are created on textiles.

10.0 Objectives

After going through this lesson, you will know about:

• The definition of texture

• Its classification

• Importance of studying texture and

• Emerging trends

10.1 Introduction

When you run one hand on the bark of a tree and with the other touch its leaves, what is the difference between the two touches? Of course one is too hard and scaly while the other touch is softer. Likewise every object has its own feel or touch and also look or appearance.

Texture is difficult to define in just a few words. As used in textile science, the term ‘texture’ means the overall feel of an object including its touch. This is a characteristic possessed by almost every material in this world. Let us try to find out what texture is?

10.2 Definition

Texture is the basic feel of any object or a surface. Different surfaces feel differently to touch and look different to the eyes. These different looking textures can be imitated on paper and even on fabric or textiles to achieve different new styles of design. Textures make designers’ thought process more creative and help in making a piece of art. Knowledge in this area opens up new horizons of ideas in the artists’ dynamic mind where the synthesis of a basic design takes place. The use of different textures in designing is like the use of figures of speech in language.

3

An infinite number of textured objects surround us. In fact, everything around us has a unique character and a texture of its own. By studying all these textures, it becomes easier to make compositions in concrete, on paper or on cloth. It is indispensable for an artist to know which texture to use when and where. This discretion can come in an artist only through frequent practice of imitating textures and the visual effect that they create finally.

Texture refers to tactile surface quality of any surface. It can also be described as the feel of any surface or an object. Textures are perceived and understood by our brain due to a play of light and shadow, where some light is absorbed and some reflected. Texture is seen or felt on a surface when there is the element of repetition and rhythm. Sand has a grainy texture due to a repetition of tiny grains of sand placed next to each other. Hence we can say that texture is a surface created by similar entities or similar elements placed closely together.

Texture can also be described as a visual illusion. For example, the rhythmic formation of clouds in the sky gives the illusion of a texture (Fig. 10.1). We see an illusion of texture when a stone is thrown into a pond (Fig. 10.2). The many concentric circles that we begin to see give us an illusion of texture. Books stacked on a shelf or on a number of shelves in a cupboard, give the illusion of texture (Fig. 10.3).

We notice that in all these examples there is a visual repetition and also a visual rhythm. This creates the textured look.

Different textures can be created by the rubbing method. Rubbing can be done by crayons (Fig. 10.4), pencil (Fig. 10.5) or candle on paper. The texture of wooden floors, manhole covering, board of wood, types of frosted glass, grills

and coins make interesting rubbing textures.

You may make a flower pot by making a rough outline of a bunch of flowers along with the pot and then fill the outlined enclosures by the rubbing method. (Fig. 10.6)

Fig. 10.2 Ripples in Water Fig. 10.3 Stacked Books Fig. 10.1 Clouds in the sky

Fig. 10.4 Rubbing wax

crayons on paper

Fig. 10.5 Rubbing pencil

on paper

4

Different media and different techniques can be used to create textures, such as blade, paper cutter (Fig. 10.7), thread (Fig. 10.8), tooth brush (Fig. 10.9), ink drops, blowing of coloured inks (Fig. 10.10), marbling (Fig. 10.11), smoke,

printing by using vegetables etc.

Expressing patterns and designs is an interesting method of creating textures in nature by sketching with pencil and sketch pen and by expressing in natural colours. Textured effects can also be achieved by getting impressions through leaves, onion, potatoes, thumb impressions, jute etc.

Birds have feathers (Fig. 10.12), butterflies have wings (Fig. 10.13), fishes have scales and leaves have veins (Fig. 10.14). They all give a certain feeling of

texture.

Fig. 10.6 Drawing of a flower pot

Fig. 10.7 Paper cutter texture

Fig. 10.8 Thread texture Fig. 10.9 Brush texture

Fig. 10.10 Blowing coloured inks Fig. 10.11 Marbling

of texture

Fig. 10.12 Feather Fig. 10.14 Veins of leaves Fig. 10.13 Butterfly

5

Tiles, rocks, bricks, pebbles and stones have a very interesting texture. When they are drawn and painted, they too reveal a unique texture of their own. The bark of wood also has a very interesting texture.

10.3 Classification of Textures

10.3.1 Smooth textures

Smooth surfaces or texture are normally glossy, shiny and slippery. Here light falling on the surface is reflected and not absorbed. For example:

• Shiny and smooth leather (a hand bag/ shoe of patent* leather)

• Marble texture (a marble flooring)

• Silk fabric texture (a silk sari or dupatta)

• Satin (a satin cushion or dress)

• Wooden table (a hand sliding easily on a smooth table)

• Ceramics (a coffee mug or tea set)

• Window pane (windowpane of a window)

• Ice crème (a cup of ice cream)

• Butter (butter being spread on a slice of bread)

• Tomatoes / apples (Fig. 10.15)

10.3.2 Grainy textures

For example:

• Tree bark • Pebbled riverbed or pebbled road. • Cake • Fish

• Sand (Fig. 10.16) • Bread • Sand paper

10.3.3 Light, soft and fluffy textures

For example:

• Snow (Fig. 10.17) • Egg white • Candy floss

• Animal fur • Soft rug

• Cotton wool

10.3.4 Rough and coarse textures

In rough texture there is a play of light and shadow where some light is absorbed and some light is reflected. For example:

Fig. 10.15 Smooth surface of apples

Fig. 10.16 Grainy texture of Sand

Fig. 10.17 Light, soft and fluffy Snow

6

• Wall

• Elephant skin • Tree bark

• Jute rug (Fig. 10.18)

• Pebbled road • Nest • Vegetables like karela

Self-check Questions

1. Give the definition of texture.

2. Write the names of five media techniques by which you can create textures on paper.

3. Give the classification of texture.

4. Write a note on the process of creating texture on synthetic fabric.

5. Give five examples each of Smooth and Grainy textures.

6. What is the importance of studying texture?

7. How will you describe texture, as a visual illusion?

8. Observe the following items and name their textures-

i) Wall ii) Cotton wool iii) window pane iv) Butter v) Sand paper vi) Candy floss vii) Elephant skin viii)Tree bark

Activity

1. Make greeting cards with patterns of peacocks, flowerpots, natural scenes or plain marbling. You may also use the technique of paper batik, blowing of coloured inks, marble texture, blade texture, or the spray method.

10.4 Importance of Studying Textures

Once we learn to recognize textures in our natural surroundings, we are able to use this knowledge and beauty to inspire us to create new kinds of textile. This knowledge would help us to create similar surface on home textile products

Fig. 10.18 Rough and coarse – Jute Rug

7

like towels, cushions, furnishing fabrics and floor coverings. The knowledge on textures could then be used to create new design ideas while designing textile products. This in turn would also add value to products that we would be designing.

For example, assume we have just one colour fabric and we to create an innovative design for a cushion. We may recreate the texture found on a corrugated sheet of paper (Fig. 10.19) or on the surface of the cushion cover by fabric manipulation techniques. This could be done, by creating some pleats on the surface (Fig. 10.20) or by quilting technique (Fig. 10.21).

10.5 Emerging Trends

In recent times plain synthetic fabric has been used to create textured fabrics by the press method or crushing or pleating fabrics under high temperature. The texture is created on the fabric by pressing in a mechanical heat pressing device where the heat condition is high. These textures remain on the fabric even after washing or light ironing.

These textured fabrics are being used for high fashion garments where the hidden elasticity of the textured fabrics creates unusually stunning fits and dramatic effects.

In the world of home fashion too, textured fabrics are used for curtains, drapes, cushions and are now selling worldwide. A well-known Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake, has created a lot of textured garments giving very dramatic dimensions.

10.6 Assignments

10.6.1Class assignments

i) Make 5"X5" squares on half an imperial sheet and show various patterns and designs created through rubbing method. First use a 6B pencil.

Fig. 10.19 Corrugated sheet of paper

Fig. 10.21 Corrugated sheet effect by quilting

Fig. 10.20 Corrugated sheet effect by creating pleats

8

Make a composition using the above-mentioned method. Use all the textures available around you. Try to explore all objects and their textures as far as possible.

You are required to make greeting cards using all these textures. Make an outline of a tree and fill colour in it by using blade for the sky, blowing of inks for the tree trunk, vegetable printing for the leaves etc.

ii) Make textures, using bird’s feathers, scales of the fish and veins of the leaves in pencil in their natural colours.

10.6.2 Home assignments

i) Take half imperial sheet and divide it into six equal rectangles. With the help of a 6B pencil, try to imitate a series of broken marbles distributed evenly on a lawn for walking. Fill in the gaps by strokes showing grass. Imitate the texture of a woven cane basket, a brick wall, a heap of stones etc in pencil. Try to show the light and dark effect with the help of 6B pencils only.

ii) Draw two sketches- one showing light and shade in pencil and the other in natural colours. Make more for practice using the paper batik effect, the blow and the blade painting effect. Work on half an imperial sheet.

iii) Cut out a stencil of the outline of a monument.

Fill the inner space with stone textures.

You can use colour / colours to draw / paint the texture.

Half imperial size sheet of paper should be used on which the monument stencil needs to be pasted.

Coloured pencils, crayons and paints can be used in this assignment.

10.7 Summing Up

• Texture is a tactile surface quality of any surface.

• Texture is the feel of any surface.

• Texture is perceived due to a play of light and shadow; some light being absorbed while some being reflected.

• Texture is closely related to repetition and rhythm.

• Texture is surface created by similar entities present in large numbers over a specific area.

• Texture is synonymous with visual illusions.

9

• Texture has a visual repetition and a visual rhythm.

• There are many types of textures, viz., Smooth, Shiny, Slippery, Rough, Coarse, Light Fluffy, Scaly, Hairy, Visual, Tactile and Audible.

Textures found in nature can be simulated or transferred on fabrics and products to add a design element and at the same time add value to

products.

10.8 Possible Answers to Self-check Questions

1. Texture is the basic feel of any object or a surface.

2. Tooth brush, Blowing of coloured inks, Marbling, Smoke and Thread texture.

3. Textures can be classified into four categories:

i) Smooth texture

ii) Grainy texture

iii) Rough and coarse texture

iv) Light, soft and fluffy texture

4. In recent times plain synthetic fabric has been used to create textured fabrics by the press method or crushing or pleating fabrics under high temperature. The texture is created on the fabric by pressing in a mechanical heat pressing device where the heat condition is high. These textures remain on the fabric even after washing or light ironing.

5. Smooth textures – ceramics, ice cream, tomatoes, apples and wooden table.

Grainy – bread, sand, cake, fish and pebbled road.

6. Once we learn to recognize textures in our natural surroundings, we are able to use this knowledge and beauty to inspire us to create new kinds of textiles. This knowledge would help us to create similar surface on home textile products like towels, cushions, furnishing fabrics and floor coverings.

7. Texture can also be described as a visual illusion. For example, the rhythmic formation of clouds in the sky gives the illusion of a texture. We see an illusion of texture when a stone is thrown into a pond. The many concentric circles that we begin to see give us an illusion of texture. Books stacked on a shelf or on a number of shelves in a cupboard, give the illusion of texture. We notice that in all these examples there is a visual repetition and also a visual rhythm. This creates the textured look.

10

8. The textures of various items are:

i) Rough and coarse texture ii) Light, soft and fluffy texture iii) Smooth texture iv) Smooth texture v) Grainy texture vi) Light, soft and fluffy texture vii) Rough and coarse texture viii)Grainy texture

10.9 Terminal Questions

1. What do you understand by the texture of a surface?

2. Comment on the importance of texture in Textile Designing.

3. Define Texture in four sentences.

4. Name five objects / areas where you can identify rough texture.

5. Name five objects / areas where you can identify smooth area texture.

6. Name five objects / areas where you can identify grainy texture.

7. Name five objects / areas where you can identify soft and fluffy texture.

8. Name the Japanese fashion designer who used texture as an element of design in his garments?

9. Name a few fabric manipulation methods to add texture.

10.9 Suggested Further Reading and Reference

1. Anonymous. 2006. The Complete Guide to Drawing and Printing. Quantum Publishing Ltd., London.

2. Susan, M. and Joost, E. 1991. Textile Designs. Thames and Hudson Ltd., London.

10.10 Glossary

1. Texture The look and the touch or feel of a surface

2. Tactile Percieved by the sense of touch

11

3. Pebbled Look as if covered with small pebbles or stones

4. Corrugated Folded up

5. Quilts Layered materials consisting of two-cloth that encase a filling and are stitched to form a puffy unit.

6. Elasticity The quality of retaining the shape after being stretched

7. Glossy Having a smooth, gleaming surface

8. Visual illusion Any illusion that deceives the human visual system into perceiving something that is not present or incorrectly perceiving what is present.