Texture Portraits

Moving on a little bit from solely using shape, we introduced texture. Creating textures through mark making on giant sheets of paper, we used them to collage together a portrait of ourselves. Textures can be made from anything that isn't flat colour.

beginning by trying to get a likeness of myself

even plain papers have subtle textures, the pulp/grain of the surface

The exercise itself was pretty free and fun to do, however I wish I had stuck to using shapes for the whole thing, features and all. I really like using line but need to try and consider different ways of utilising it, stepping away from it a little.

I do like working with textures too, I think they lift a piece of work and prevent it from looking too flat or dull. Making your own textures is a way of generating surfaces and patterns that are completely original, and traditional media help to introduce a handcrafted feel. Collecting textures and paper is a way of reinventing existing imagery and patterns too.