Creating Depth with Texture: A Peek Into My Process
Texture is my signature. It’s what gives my work depth, emotion, and a kind of tactile energy that I just can’t achieve with paint alone. I love working with texture in multiple ways—sometimes to heighten the intensity of a moment, other times to dramatize certain areas of the painting.
I often build up several layers of texture, one over the other, to give my paintings a strong sense of depth and movement. For me, this layering is deeply symbolic. Just like people, my work is built on layers—of emotion, memory, experience, and energy. When a viewer engages with one of my paintings, I want them to feel drawn in, as though they’re slowly uncovering the emotional layers of a moment or memory.
My process usually begins with the canvas flat on the floor of my studio. I apply the texture using a scalpel, starting with either molding paste or a paint thickener—both of which have a smooth, creamy consistency. From there, I add coarser materials: coarse pumice, sometimes followed by extra coarse pumice to intensify the texture. If I’m using crackle paste, that typically comes next. I’ll also layer in other elements like sand or small rocks once the main textures have dried.
Textures usually take 24–48 hours to dry fully before I start layering paint over them.
Here’s a list of some of my go-to texture materials:
-
Molding Paste
-
Coarse Pumice
-
Extra Coarse Pumice
-
Fine Pumice
-
Modelling Paste
-
Crackle Paste
-
Paint Thickener
-
Rocks
-
Sand
As you can probably tell—I’m a little obsessed with texture. If you are too, I’d love to connect and hear about your thoughts on engaging with texture art or if you have experienced working with texture.