The Secrets of Visual Texture

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:

• Even if the viewer is not physically touching the artwork, visual texture can stimulate the sense of touch. This can stimulate the somatosensory cortex and other brain regions that deal with processing tactile information.
• The brain's reward system may be triggered by viewing textured art, releasing dopamine and giving the viewer a sense of pleasure or enjoyment. This may be particularly true if the texture has a pleasing appearance and gives the piece of art a sense of harmony or balance.
• The occipital lobe and the visual association regions, which are involved in processing visual information, can be activated by visual texture. As the observer is attracted by the distinctive and exquisite aspects of the artwork, this may result in increased visual processing and attention.
• The limbic system, which plays a role in processing emotions and eliciting emotional reactions to stimuli, may also be implicated in the emotional impact of viewing textured art. Certain feelings or moods can be evoked by the texture. 
• Depending on the texture's makeup and the emotional reaction it elicits, different limbic regions may be stimulated.​

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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:

• The capacity to give an artwork depth and dimension, which increases the viewer's perception of its tangibleness and reality.
• The chance to play with a variety of textures and materials, including plasticine, leaves, and flowers as well as fabrics.
• The capacity to arouse particular moods or feelings in the observer by utilising various textures and texture combinations to accentuate harmony, tension, or contrast in the artwork.
• The ability to develop a special artistic voice that will distinguish your work different from others in the same medium or genre.
• The capacity to captivate viewers on various levels, including the visual, emotional, tactile, and sensory, to create a rich and satisfying experience that can be both enjoyable and thought-provoking.​

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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.]

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