Recently, I discovered a different way of recording. This technique uses textures in order to enhance observational drawings.

I approached the task with the idea that the piece would link to my Architecture project, hence the several building materials drawn in the piece.

To make a textured base, all you need is a cardboard base and lots of different materials to lay on top. These materials can be secured using glue. For my textured base, I used different types of tape of which were twirled in order to give them more texture, string and more cardboard. Obviously, I was quite representational with my textured base, but you can also be more abstract.

I painted over the whole textured base, once secured properly, with white emulsion paint which enabled me to have a ‘blank canvas’ with textures underneath.

On top of the white base, I started adding colour. To do so, I used acrylic paints and was aided by previous observational drawings in order to do so. With this part, I could be as creative as I wanted to, so I used additional masking tape on top to help reflect the texture of bark as well as the shape of the grain of wood. Alongside this, I used oil pastels, black pen and collaged paper.

My favourite part of the whole piece is the blue half of the piece. For this I used a dry brush and several blue paints in order to reflect the glassy textures. I also plan to add some acetate to help show the glassy textures too.

This technique is a very easy way to show textures as well as enhancing once flat observational drawings.