How do we make our two-dimensional medium feel like three-dimensions? We know using leading lines help bring viewers into the image. For instance, a country road that narrows in the middle and disappears in the top of the frame gives the viewer the feeling of depth.

Texture, however, gives us the visual quality of a surface — how rough, smooth, gritty, or soft it appears in a two-dimensional image. For instance, it lets us imagine how rough a mountain would feel. When you look at this image, you can almost feel the roughness, coarseness and sharp edges.

Wood on an old weathered barn, invites us to become enveloped in textures and colors. You can see the danger of getting a splinter and almost feel the rough texture of the old wood. Have you hugged a tree lately? Doesn’t this old tree look inviting. It’s the texture creating that invitation. And, add the symbiotic relationship of lichen making its home on a tree we can feel and see two types of textures.

Leaves also have different textures. The spiny cactus would certainly prick your hand if you grabbed it. But the leathered leaf would feel smooth to your touch. Just looking at each picture, I pick touching the leathered leaf. I can feel its thick, smooth and veiny quality.

Soft textures can be found in the strands of yarn and in the beautiful feathers of a bird. I know what those strands of yarn feel like; but I’ve never held an egret. But seeing those fine feathers spread out on its wing, I can imagine how soft they would feel.

And, last my favorite texture–rust. I don’t have to touch it to feel it’s rough surface and see its brilliant colors. I can almost jump into the rusty texture and strip off years of neglect. Just looking at the picture, I’m absorbed in the story and its history.

Texture helps my two-dimensional examples have a three-dimensional quality. Now it’s your turn. Show us your images where texture plays an integral part. When you share your post, please remember to link it to mine and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week we all had fun finding pictures for our quotes or quotes for our pictures1 Thanks Ann-Christine for that amazing challenge! Next week Ritva will be presenting the challenge. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient!

64 thoughts on “Lens Artist Challenge #397: Texture”

  15. A very beautiful gallery, from the rock face to rust and cobwebs. It’s a lovely challenge too, textures are everywhere.

    I hope my link appears in three days, when I’ve scheduled it. I’ll be travelling, so access to the blog is not predictable.

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  21. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I loved this challenge and got carried away (too much!). It was inspiring, motivating, fun and it set my imagination on fire. Your post is wonderful. I really like your header shot! Thanks again. pp

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    1. Thanks Pam! I’m so glad you did this challenge. Your wonderful post was filled with unique and descriptive textures. When I saw the mushroom, I saw fairies having tea at the mushroom table before you mentioned them. And you did the post in black and white. Well done!

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  22. Dear Anne
    How to make your two-dimensional medium feel like three-dimensional, that and about time in photography, is what David Hockney writes about in his book “David Hockney about ‘Art'”. It’s a book about photography.
    Thanks for your examples
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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    1. Sometimes I think I’m at a disadvantage because I know nothing about art! I can see it would have been beneficial to have taken some courses, but I’ve learned a lot by following artists. I just might get this book. Thanks!

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  31. Inspirational! I love this challenge and you are a master of making us take it on! Love your examples, everyone from rusty to the elegant softness of the egret!

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