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Imagine transforming a room's mood with just a brushstroke: this is the power of visual texture in art and interior design. While texture in design often relates to physical touch, in the realm of visual arts and interiors, it's a visual and emotional journey. This blog delves into how visual texture in artworks can transform interior spaces, not just visually, but also emotionally and psychologically.  The Emotional Canvas: Visual Textures Transforming Interiors Imagine transforming a room's mood with just a brushstroke: this is the power of visual texture in art and interior design. While texture in design often relates to physical touch, in the realm of visual arts and interiors, it's a visual and emotional journey. This blog delves into how visual texture in artworks can transform interior spaces, not just visually, but also emotionally and psychologically.  Texture and Mood in Interiors: Studies have shown that soft and smooth textures tend to evoke pleasant emotional responses, while rough textures can elicit more negative feelings. This is crucial in interior design, where the texture of an artwork can set the tone for a room. Imagine the impact of a visually smooth, serene artwork in a bedroom, creating a sense of calm and tranquility. Visual Textures and Emotional Experience: Dynamic textures in art - repetitive, time-varying patterns - have a profound impact on our emotional experiences. These textures can make a space feel more lively and engaging, influencing not just our mood but our overall perception of the environment. Textures, Materials, and Human Psychology: The psychological impact of textures extends beyond touch. Various elements like colours, tones, and textures in art can directly influence our behaviour and response to a space. In interior design, choosing an artwork with the right texture can significantly alter the atmosphere and emotional response of the occupants.  Textures, Emotions, and Brain Activation:
Interestingly, research using fMRI has found that rougher textures activate the human lateral occipital cortex more strongly. This suggests that artworks with pronounced textures can have a more intense psychological impact, making them powerful tools in interior design for creating engaging and emotionally resonant spaces. Conclusion: The integration of art with visual texture in interior design is more than an aesthetic choice; it's a psychological one. It's about creating spaces that are not only visually appealing but also emotionally and psychologically enriching. As we blend art, design, and psychology, we unlock the potential to transform everyday spaces into experiences that resonate on a deeper level. How have you experienced the impact of visual texture in your home or design projects? Share your thoughts and insights on how art and texture influence your emotional and psychological response to a space. Bibliography: Echavarria, C. et al. "Texture Affects Color Emotion." ResearchGate. [Study on the impact of texture on brain activity and emotional responses. Peck, J., & Childers, T. L. (2003). "Individual differences in haptic information processing: The ‘need for touch’ scale." Journal of Consumer Research, 30(3), 430-442. [Explores the role of touch in consumer behavior, relevant for understanding tactile versus visual textures. Jousmäki, V., & Hari, R. (1998). "Parchment-skin illusion: sound-biased touch." Current Biology, 8(6), R190. [Discusses the interplay between sound and touch, relevant to understanding multi-sensory aspects of texture.] Zangenehpour, S., & Zatorre, R. J. (2010). "Crossmodal interactions in the experience of musical performances: Physiological correlates." Cerebral Cortex, 20(7), 1754-1764. [Sheds light on crossmodal interactions, useful for understanding the integration of visual and tactile experiences. Bar, M., & Neta, M. (2007). "Visual elements of subjective preference modulate amygdala activation." Neuropsychologia, 45(10), 2191-2200. [Explores how visual elements affect emotional responses, relevant to understanding the impact of visual textures.] Lindgaard, G., Fernandes, G., Dudek, C., & Brown, J. (2006). "Attention web designers: You have 50 milliseconds to make a good first impression!" Behaviour & Information Technology, 25(2), 115-126. [Highlights the importance of first impressions in design, relevant for understanding the impact of visual textures in interior design.]
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 Drops of water by Canva 2023 Have you ever been drawn in by a work of art that seemed to jump off the canvas? Its exquisite and tactile details captured your attention. If so, you might be familiar with the influence of visual texture in art. The use of various textures or surfaces in artwork to add dimension, intrigue, and depth is known as visual texture. Texture, whether it be the smooth, flowing textures of water or the gritty, rough textures of sand, can provide an additional layer of meaning and emotion to an artwork, invoking particular associations, moods, and feelings in the viewer.  Brain image by Canva 2023 However, the visual texture goes beyond aesthetics. According to research, experiencing art with visual texture may have physiological consequences on the brain, stimulating several areas of the brain at once and giving the spectator a rich and interesting experience. This can occur in a number of different ways, as follows:
 Acer leaf painted with sand on cardboard by Amarti 2020 What does this entail for creatives, then? The use of visual texture in art can unleash a world of imaginative potential, enabling creators to produce distinctive and compelling works of art that arouse certain feelings and connections in the viewer. Just a few aesthetic possibilities that visual texture might provide are as follows:
 Coral painted with plasticine on acrylic by Amarti 2022 Take a deeper look the next time you come across a piece of art with visual texture to discover how it affects your emotions and brain function. Consider the creative opportunities that texture can provide if you're an artist as well, from adding depth and character to your work to invoking particular feelings and connections in viewers. The details are the key to visual texture; pay attention to them and watch your creation come to life.
Bibliography Gombrich, E. H. (1984). "The Sense of Order: A Study in the Psychology of Decorative Art." Phaidon Press. [This book offers a comprehensive view of the psychology behind patterns and decorative art, which is closely related to visual texture.]Arnheim, Rudolf. (1954). "Art and Visual Perception: A Psychology of the Creative Eye." University of California Press. [Arnheim's work provides an in-depth analysis of how visual elements, including texture, affect perception in art.]Jirousek, Charlotte. "Art, Design, and Visual Thinking." Cornell University College of Human Ecology. [An online resource that explains fundamental concepts of visual design, including texture.]Whitney, Lois. (1994). "Texturing and Modeling: A Procedural Approach." Academic Press. [Focuses on the creation of visual texture in digital art and modeling.]Lauer, David A., and Stephen Pentak. (2011). "Design Basics." Cengage Learning. [This book discusses fundamental design principles, including the use of texture to create depth and interest in art.]Zelanski, Paul, and Mary Pat Fisher. (2009). "The Art of Seeing." Prentice Hall. [Provides insight into how we perceive various elements in art, including texture, and how it affects our interpretation of artwork.]Livingstone, Margaret. (2002). "Vision and Art: The Biology of Seeing." Harry N. Abrams. [Explores the intersection of art and neuroscience, particularly how our brain perceives visual textures in art.] A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to speak at the York Creatives pechakucha event on the theme of ‘Reformed, Reinvented, Recycled’. I spoke about how Amarti Studio uses concepts that I have learned as an architect and from other personal experiences. If you are changing your career or want to understand a bit of the creative process of a design studio you might like to view the 6 min recording of this talk. Enjoy! https://www.pechakucha.com/presentations/reinventing-a-design-studio-story  Stamp Drawers and SandIn one of our many visits to the local car boot sale, I discovered the old stamp drawers. The demise of letterpress printing, (the standard method of printing for decades https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterpress_printing) has behind lots of unwanted beautiful drawers in which letter stamps have been categorized and stored. I fell in love with these old and beautiful drawers. A lady offered me a bag full of stamp drawers of different sizes for £30. I couldn’t miss that bargain! The framing of the Mister View artwork, gave me the idea to use these stamp drawers as frames, with the advantage that they have depth. The drawers are 1 1/2 inch deep approx, so I could place an image in each compartment at different depths to give a more 3D effect. For my first painting in a stamp drawer, I chose an image of cherry blossoms and the River Hudson (NY). I love cherry blossoms and water reflections and this image had both. Discovering Sand ArtSand art, painting with sand. This is the first sand art drawing that I painted with my daughter's help in a toddler's party the day that I discovered Sand Art. I discovered sand art at a toddler party. https://sales.kidsbeehappy.com/ The children were given a drawing on yellow sticky paper where the outlines of the picture were already partially cut out. Peeling off sections from the surface of the sticky paper, the children could then apply different colors of sand to each area exposed. Basically, the same stick-on peel-off method that I was using to stencil on my tables (see painted-tables.html) This process was so satisfying in a sensory way, feeling the texture of the sand and the velvety surface of the drawing, that I needed to explore it more! I started experimenting using sand on paper with glue but it didn’t give the same smooth finish and clear outline. The glue would leave trails and an uneven finish. The sticky paper was crucial! So I bought A4 sticky printer paper (without cutout). This worked but the paper was too thin. It needed to be glued to a card with a special adhesive to prevent a lumpy surface. For the colored sand, I searched the web for a broad palette of interesting colors. There is a method of coloring sand with finely grated pastel colors but this type of sand leaves a residue and it is difficult to obtain intense hues with this method. Shopping around, I discovered that the wedding industry uses colored sand for decorative purposes. From these sources, I bought sand in small quantities of 0.5mm and 0.2mm.  Acer leaf painted with sand art. There is little control over the sand when it is applied to the paper. For this reason, it is necessary to peel off the sticky paper slowly, bit by bit, to control the area you want to color. Otherwise the colors may mix.
I drew on the prepared paper and cut off the surface, piece by piece, according to each color that I chose to use. In this way, the sand sticks to the uncovered area. As with the table's stencils, it is important to control the depth of the cut that the knife makes otherwise you will cut right through the paper. The “View of York Minster” is my first artwork using this technique. I wanted to give the impression that the viewer is looking through a window and so I chose “a window frame”. I also assumed it would be easy to work within the sections of the frame. Stick-on Peel-Off Stencil Methodhand painted FurnitureThese tables were upcycled basically with the Stick-On Peel-Off method by using painter’s tape (I have used Frog Tape https://www.frogtape.co.uk/ which I really recommend) on an already prepared and painted base. To prepare the table, the surface was cleaned, sanded, primed and painted with the background color. Having designed the pattern already on paper, I covered the table with tape and drew my design on it. With a very sharp knife, I cut and then peeled off the areas I was going to paint in a different color. It is important to be careful that the knife does not cut below the tape, otherwise, you may damage the surface. It is about knowing how much pressure to assert. Next, peeled off the tape. This method leaves sharp lines and gives the table a professional finish. Then, I added some more painted details with copper ink to some of the tables, to finally wax and buff the surface. The Stick-on Peel-Off Stencil Method worked wonderfully! Little did I know I would be using it with a very different medium. Patterns on TablesPatterns on TablesMy husband and I enjoy going to the car boot sales around York and the auction house nearby. We look for little treasures, nothing expensive but with potential; old things that we find unique in terms of design that people don’t need or don’t appreciate anymore.
I started buying small old tables that were the perfect canvas for my pattern designs. These tables are well constructed and foldable. I wanted to take advantage of the design opportunities this offered. Because they are foldable, they offer different views, so the viewer’s perspective and angle became crucial for my designs. This is most noticeable in the Spiral Table. Love for patternsLove For PatternsI discovered my love for patterns playing Hama Beads. Hama Beads is a popular craft activity to help children focus and be creative. It consists of little colorful beads on a tray that are fixed together by ironing on top of them and creating little mats of color. I started experimenting with them and I found the whole thing irresistible! I couldn’t stop. It had a bit of mathematics, sequencing, design, and of course, color! It made me want to experiment with patterns on bigger surfaces. Why not try on tables?
Creative Process Description Creative ChainWhere do creative ideas come from? How do they appear, and in which fashion?
I have a very creative mind, and in my case, ideas come when I least expect them, sometimes even in my dreams while I sleep. It is as though the brain creates a collage of concepts and images through the day, maybe, from that flower that I observed while walking? Or that artist that I was reading about? Then, mixes them together to produce a new and unique idea. This process fascinates me. It is the reason why I have decided to start this blog in order to understand the creative process. I want to share this in the form of a blog so any creative soul out there can, like me, use these ideas and produce something new and unique. Let's work with this chain of recycled ideas that we call creativity! |
