Too often ignored or skimmed over in art classes and workshops is the element of texture. In our daily lives, we speak of surfaces as being smooth or scratchy, soft or rough, but in a painting, texture refers to its structural surface, either actual or virtual. Look at the two paintings below, one by
Jennifer McChristian and the other, Quang Ho.
Ignore whether you like either of these works or what they communicate. Instead, switch your
attention to the surface quality of each one. In which does your eye move faster?
Yes, your eye does move. There's nothing you can do about it. It's the nature of our eyes to register the surface
quality of whatever they're looking at, but it's up to us to recognize what they are seeing. For one thing, the cadence at which our eyes move over a surface. For example, in each of the excerpts below, would its cadence be closer to that of a waltz or a tango?
Visual cadence is flow of rhythm. Visual rhythm is caused by repetitions and variations that enable
the visual flow. Textures play a huge role in creating visual cadence.
In the McChristian excerpt (left), rhythm is created with a repetition of vertical and diagonal movement created by a smooth transition
between textured areas. In the Quang (right), the repetition is similar, but the transitions are more stark, creating a more accented cadence. Neither is better than the other, just different interpretations. Like a waltz and a tango.
Go to any artist's website. As you look at each piece, pay attention to the cadence created by texture. Notice
how your eye is moving throughout the piece. Don't judge it! It's not a matter of judgment. It's simply training your visual awareness.
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