A Smooth Path to More Texture with Steve Griggs
Steve Griggs (Ep.59) loves texture and there’s a few ways he gets it in his work.
First, he gets texture through his pigments. He includes pigments that are known as granulating pigments. He also has a shader that is granulated so when he mixes it it to non-granulating pigments to darken or neutralize them, the result is still a granulating effect.
Second, he gets texture through his papers. He uses 140 pound rough paper. That surface has a bumpy quality to it that allows him to accentuate the paper's texture when he wants to.
Third, he gets texture through his techniques and viscosity of paint. You’ll notice he uses an abundance of different techniques from dappling to overspraying to thick washes where colors intermingle. All of these lead to more visual texture for the viewer to experience.
Put it to Practice:
Your materials can work with you or against you and this is a great example of an artist using his materials to work with him.
Griggs knows he likes texture so instead of only being able to access it through painting techniques like spattering, he sets up his materials to accentuate the texturized options in watercolor.
But if you’re an artist who DOESN’T want texture, that’s great too. Make sure you’re using papers, pigments and techniques that don’t accentuate texture. For example, in watercolor, that might mean you use a smooth paper. In acrylic, that may mean choosing fluid acrylics so that you don’t see the build up of thick paint textures.
By using materials that work with your goals, you’ll have an easier time getting the look and feel you want in your work.
Discover more ideas for how to approach dynamic watercolor paintings by listening to Ep.59 with Steve Griggs, here.