Texture and Tactility - 3.2.2.3 | Unit 1: The Expressive Self – Identity, Emotion, and Personal Narrative | IB MYP Grade 9 Visual Arts
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3.2.2.3 - Texture and Tactility

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Interactive Audio Lesson

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Understanding Texture

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Teacher
Teacher

Today, we’ll explore the concept of texture in art. Texture can be tactile, meaning we can physically feel it, or it can be implied through visual techniques. Why do you think texture is important in art?

Student 1
Student 1

I think it helps the viewer connect with the artwork more deeply.

Teacher
Teacher

Absolutely! For instance, a rough texture may evoke feelings of chaos or struggle, while a smooth texture can convey calmness or serenity. Can anyone think of a specific artwork that uses texture effectively?

Student 2
Student 2

What about Frida Kahlo’s paintings? They seem very textured and emotional.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Kahlo masterfully uses texture to symbolize her pain and cultural identity. Let’s remember the acronym T.E.X.T.U.R.E. for key texture types: Tactile, Expressive, X-factor, Tangible, Unseen, Reflective, and Emotional. This will help you in your upcoming projects. Can you think of how you could use texture in your own work?

Tactility in Art

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Teacher
Teacher

Next, let's talk about tactility and how it affects how we perceive art. Tactility involves the sense of touch, even in visual artwork. How do you think this could impact viewing?

Student 3
Student 3

Maybe it makes us feel more connected or immersive in the art?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! Tactile qualities can enhance emotional connection, making certain feelings more vivid. For example, Yayoi Kusama's installations invite viewers to engage with her work through the feel of polka dots and repetition. If you had to create a piece with a tactile element, what would you choose, and why?

Student 4
Student 4

I would use soft fabric to create a comfort piece, since it feels warm and inviting.

Teacher
Teacher

Great idea! The choice of materials directly affects the emotional experience. Let’s summarize: Texture impacts emotion, and tactility influences engagement. Remember the phrase, 'Feel the art to understand it better.'

Applying Texture and Tactility in Projects

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Teacher
Teacher

Now that we have discussed texture and tactility, how do you think you can apply these concepts in your upcoming projects?

Student 1
Student 1

We can try using mixed media to add different textures to our art!

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Mixed media is a fantastic way to explore texture. You might use materials like sand, fabric, or paper. Think about how each texture you add alters the emotional message of your work. What are some emotions you want to express through your textures?

Student 2
Student 2

I want to express joy, so I might use bright colors and smooth textures!

Teacher
Teacher

Perfect! Smooth textures can create a sense of lightness and happiness. Remember, when you're working on your pieces, continually ask yourself: What do I want the viewer to feel?

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

This section examines how artists utilize texture and tactility to evoke emotions and convey personal narratives in their artwork.

Standard

The section focuses on the significance of texture and tactility in visual arts. It discusses how artists manipulate these elements to communicate emotions and identity, highlighting specific techniques and examples to illustrate the deep connection between tactile experience and artistic expression.

Detailed

Texture and Tactility

In this section, we explore the role of texture and tactility in visual arts as essential components of emotional expression and identity representation. Texture can be categorized into different types, such as tactile textures we can feel (like impasto or rough surfaces) or implied textures that create visual sensations (like smooth, flat, or patterned surfaces in two-dimensional works). This section emphasizes how texture influences the viewer's experience of artwork by evoking physical sensations that parallel emotional responses.

The manipulation of texture in art can come from various techniques, including layering paint, using mixed media, or creating three-dimensional elements in relief sculptures. The discussion includes how textured surfaces can convey ideas of struggle, beauty, or sensory experiences of identity, further reinforced through artists’ personal narratives.

Key examples include Frida Kahlo's use of texture to symbolize pain and cultural identity or Yayoi Kusama's immersive installations that reflect her mental health experience through tactile repetition. These examples exemplify how texture enriches the narrative and emotional depth of works, making the viewer’s experience both visceral and reflective. This section ultimately encourages students to analyze how they can incorporate texture and tactility into their own artistic practices to enhance self-expression and storytelling.

Audio Book

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Understanding Texture in Art

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Texture refers to the surface quality of an artwork, whether it is smooth, rough, soft, or hard. Artists utilize texture to evoke specific feelings and emotions in viewers. The tactile quality can influence how we perceive the artwork, adding depth and dimension.

Detailed Explanation

Texture in art is all about the way an artwork feels or looks like it would feel to the touch. There are two main types of texture: actual texture, which you can physically feel, and implied texture, which you can only see. For example, a painting may have thick layers of paint that you can feel, whereas a drawing may use shading to create the illusion of texture. Artists choose textures intentionally to make their work more expressive. A rough texture can evoke feelings of frustration or unrest, whereas a smooth texture might communicate calm and serenity.

Examples & Analogies

Think of how you feel when you touch different materials. A smooth silk fabric feels soothing, while a rough burlap sack feels rough and rugged. Similarly, in art, an artist might use rough brush strokes to convey chaos or turmoil, while smooth lines might represent peace and tranquility.

The Role of Tactility in Artistic Expression

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Tactility plays a crucial role in the way viewers interact with art. The sense of touch can deeply influence our emotional response to the piece. Artists may incorporate tactile elements to create an engaging experience that resonates beyond sight.

Detailed Explanation

Tactility pertains to the engagement of our sense of touch with an artwork. When artists think about how their work feels, they often incorporate materials that challenge our expectations. For example, a sculpture might have a soft, fluffy texture that contrasts with its hard materials, provoking thought about vulnerability versus strength. By making art tactile, artists invite viewers to engage more fully, often leading to a more personal and emotional connection with the work.

Examples & Analogies

Consider a children's play area filled with various textures – soft mats, rough climbing walls, and smooth slides. Children are naturally drawn to explore these textures, engaging with them in a way that encourages play and imagination. Similarly, when viewers encounter art that incorporates tactile elements, they might find themselves wanting to reach out and touch, creating a deeper, interactive relationship with the artwork.

Techniques to Create Texture

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Artists employ specific techniques to create texture in their work. Techniques such as impasto (thick paint application), sgraffito (scratching through layers), and layering materials enhance the texture and add visual interest.

Detailed Explanation

Creating texture is often achieved through various art techniques. One popular method is impasto, where artists apply paint in thick layers, allowing the brush strokes to remain visible and create a three-dimensional feel on the canvas. Another technique, sgraffito, involves scratching through a layer of paint to reveal the color underneath, generating interesting patterns and textures. By blending different materials—like combining paper, fabric, and paint—artists can produce unique textural effects, inviting viewers to experience the artwork on multiple sensory levels.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine baking a cake with different textures: a creamy frosting on top, a dense brownie layer, and a light sponge underneath. Each layer adds to the overall experience of the cake. In a similar way, artists create texture in their work by layering techniques and materials. The tactile experience can make the artwork feel alive, much like the sensation of eating that layered cake!

Emotional Impact of Texture

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The texture of an artwork can evoke strong emotional responses from viewers. Artists must consider how texture interacts with color and form to convey their intended messages effectively.

Detailed Explanation

The emotional impact of texture in art is profound. Different textures can evoke different feelings; for instance, soft textures can make viewers feel calm and comfortable, while jagged or rough textures can create a sense of disturbance or tension. When an artist blends textures with color and form, they can express complex emotions and narratives within their work. For example, combining a rough texture with dark colors might evoke feelings of despair, while bright colors paired with smooth textures might convey happiness and lightness.

Examples & Analogies

Think about how a cozy blanket feels on a cold day. The soft texture of the blanket brings comfort and warmth, making you feel safe. In artwork, when textures are used thoughtfully, they can create similar emotional connections. An artist might use soft, flowing lines and warm colors to evoke feelings of peace and comfort, much like wrapping yourself in that cozy blanket.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Texture: The visual and tactile quality of a surface in artwork.

  • Tactility: The experience of touch that influences emotional engagement with art.

  • Mixed Media: A technique that combines different materials, enhancing texture and visual interest.

  • Emotional Resonance: The emotional connection that artwork creates with the viewer.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

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Examples

  • Frida Kahlo uses textured backgrounds to represent her emotional pain and cultural identity.

  • Yayoi Kusama employs repetitive patterns and tactile elements in installations that immerse viewers in her experience.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Texture and tactility, feel them both, you'll see, they tell a story, true artistry!

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine an artist creating a sculpture that feels rough on one side, telling of struggle, while the smooth side reflects peace and tranquility, merging experiences.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember T.A.C.T.I.L.E. for Tactile: Touch, Art, Connect, Tell, Involve, Look, Emotion.

🎯 Super Acronyms

T.E.X.T.U.R.E.

  • Tactile
  • Expressive
  • X-factor
  • Tangible
  • Unseen
  • Reflective
  • Emotional.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

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  • Term: Texture

    Definition:

    The perceived surface quality of a work of art, which can be tactile (physical) or visual (how it appears to the eye).

  • Term: Tactility

    Definition:

    The quality of being able to be touched or perceived by touch, enhancing the emotional connection to visual artworks.

  • Term: Implied Texture

    Definition:

    Visual texture that suggests a certain feel but cannot actually be felt physically, created through artistic techniques.

  • Term: Mixed Media

    Definition:

    An art practice that involves using various materials and mediums to create a single artwork.

  • Term: Emotional Resonance

    Definition:

    The ability of an artwork to convey emotional depth, impacting the viewer’s feelings and experiences.