texture
Texture is the quality used to describe the physical qualities of a three-dimensional object (i.e. what something feels like) or the visual feel of a two-dimensional work of art (i.e. the physical qualities portrayed by a work of art). There are several kinds of texture in art. The first type of texture is actual texture. Actual or tactile texture is the physical tactile qualities of real, three-dimensional objects. This means the things you feel with your hand. For example, almost everyone is familiar with the texture of wood, the texture of paper, the texture of grass. These are real textures and they only exist in the physical, three-dimensional world.
On the other hand, there is also texture in the two-dimensional world, it is just different. A two-dimensional piece can have actual texture - the brush strokes in a painting, for example, you can feel with your fingers. The same is true for ink in printed designs. However, the majority of discussion relating to texture in two-dimensional art is visual texture, or how well the piece portrays a texture you can feel in the three-dimensional world. There are several types of visual texture that are used in two-dimensional art:
Simulated texture - a two-dimensional piece is created in such a way as to look like something it is not, such as painting a dog and it looking like real fur or a tree that looks like it has real bark. Common forms of simulated texture are photographs or trompe l'oeil pieces. Trompe l'oeil ("fool the eye") is a piece of art that is created and is realistic to the point of being mistaken for a photograph or the real object. Look at these examples. In Sleeping Dog by Gerrit Dou, it looks like a real dog lying on a table next to a bundle of tree branches and a clay pot. You feel as if you could feel these objects if you reached out and touched them. The second image is an example of trompe l'oeil. It looks as if a butterfly is sitting on the girl's shoulder when in actuality it is only a tattoo.
(Images from: (1) http://www.thewhig.com/2014/07/28/texture-in-art and (2) http://positivr.fr/15-tatouages-en-trompe-loeil-magnifiques/)
Abstract or Simplified texture - a simplified version of a real texture. It looks like a texture we recognize, but is not exact enough to make us feel like it is the real object. Look at the usage of texture to look like grass and trees in Phillipine Scenery by Saitachi. You would never mistake them for real grass or trees, but you instinctively know what they are based on texture. The same is true for the flowers and clouds in Field of Joy by Megan Duncanson.
(Images from: (1) http://saitachi.deviantart.com/art/Philippine-scenery-159219291 and (2) https://fineartamerica.com/featured/field-of-joy-by-madart-megan-duncanson.html)
Invented texture - a texture that is completely made up by the artist, usually resembling a pattern or design. Invented texture has lately gained popularity through its use in color page mandalas and adult coloring books. An example of invented texture use in a painting is A Cat Named Picasso by Anthony Falbo. An example of invented texture in modern adult coloring pages is Giant Panda Page by Daniel de Sosa.
(Images from: (1) https://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-cat-named-picasso-anthony-falbo.html and (2) http://desosa.tumblr.com/post/117547496458/giant-panda-page-from-my-animal-dreamers-coloring)
So how and why can artists choose which type of texture to use? There are also several different reasons artists choose to use different types of textures. One reason, and normally the most popular one, is to represent the object they are portraying. Another reason is to express movement. By using a different texture, an artist can add or simulate movement in the piece. Vincent Van Gogh was a master at this. Look at his use of texture in Road with Men Walking, Carriage, Cyprus, Star, and Crescent Moon. He used a combination of abstract and invented textures to create movement throughout the piece.
(Image from: https://www.pubhist.com/w6189)
A third reason is to demonstrate a trait or quality not found in the actual texture of the object. For another example, Monet chose to show the color and light of an object rather than the object itself. This, understandably, led to a different texture than a traditional tree, wood, or flower image. Look at his work entitled Water Lillies and Japanese Bridge below.
(Image from: http://artmuseum.princeton.edu/collections/objects/31852)
Another reason to change the traditional texture of an object is to connect or provide interaction with the viewer. This is common in the materials used to create three-dimensional sculptures. Artists will add texture to the surface of three-dimensional pieces of art to make them interactive for the viewer. An example of this is the Vietnam War Memorial with the names of fallen soldiers engraved into its surface. The names are intended to be felt and touched to enhance the connection with the fallen soldier.
A final reason is to give convey a message or change the visual impact of the piece they are working on. This is often done in non-traditional textures. They may choose a physical item that means something to them and add it to the piece. They may add an invented texture to imply a message or simply to successfully complete a vision of an item they have in their head, such as patterns and designs on pottery. For example, what message or statement could the artist be conveying with this piece? It is simply entitled Object by Meret Oppenheim.
(Image from: https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/meret-oppenheim-object-paris-1936)
Whichever reason they choose, texture in a piece of art is not added on a whim - each type of reason and where it is on the piece is there for a reason.
Watch this video to review some of the material:
Watch this video to review some of the material: