Surface Texture

[Robert Graham]

Hello I am new to the forum, and I would like some advice, I notice when I go to galleries and look at abstracts, as well as other types of Art it seems most artists choose to use very heavy textural surface effects either by using heavy bodied paint or even adding some material to the surface to create this texturing. I am wondering if this is what galleries expect, of truly professional artwork or is this just a trend.

Thanks Robert Graham

[cottonchipper]

Just my opinion, of course, but I don't think gallery owners "expect" lots of surface texture anymore than they would expect an artist to use a certain color or style of brushstroke. I doubt that most gallery owners would turn away a portfolio of otherwise appealing work because it didn't have enough texture.

I think the use of texture depends on what the artist is trying to do with a particular painting and whether the extra texture helps them acheive it.

Now, do paintings with more texture sell better than the same painting without the texture? I don't know, but I'd say maybe so. The texture can add additional drama and (literally) a third dimension to the painting. To some of the painting buying public the extra texture may make the work look richer or bolder in some ways.

[idylbrush]

At one point in my work the surface was so slick that folks thought they were prints. Even when we talked about the process and the procedures I couldn't convince them otherwise.

Texture can disallow that kind of thinking and allows the concept that it has the touch of a hand to it.

Is texture required. No. Can it be fun. Yes.

[Printmakerguy]

One thing that I have noticed in juust hanging around galleries is that peopel are drawn to texture in the surface of a painting, because with so many clever ways to print reproductions these days, they 'know' it is hand-painted... Though this isn't necisarily true...

I know many, many skilled painters who are frustrated when they try to convince someone that an original painting isnt a giclee simply because the surface ends up so smooth... I bought a painting at the Winter Park show this weekend- an acrylic- that is incredibly well done with layer after layer of glazing, and is smooth beyond beleif- The artist was grumbling about this very thing- most people passed it off as a print!!

-Andrew