Internal Texture

Materials needed:

*Watercolors

*Paintbrushes

*Cup of water

*Salt

*Rubbing alcohol

*Crayons or oil pastels

*Plastic wrap

*Watercolor paper

*Masking tape

*Paper towels

This project was to explore the various textures made with watercolors in a non-objective way. The textures would be inspired by food we eat and translating them onto our page using various watercolor techniques. We were also only allowed to use colors we had mixed ourselves.

*For a tutorial on this project, visit Art is an Adventure*
In my process, I began by using masking tape to carefully tape around the edges of the watercolor paper, and then using cross sections to create six distinct sections of the page.

Beginning with the upper left square, I was inspired by a homemade pickle. The pickle had a loud flavor that grabbed my attention with a very distinct taste. I decide to go with a bright yellow-orange, mixing the two colors in my palate. Once I decided on the color, then I took clean water with my brush and brushed it onto the surface of the first square and filled the square. Once covered with water, I then applied the yellow orange color. This is called “wet on wet.” After it dried, I put another layer of orange onto the surface, but this time I took plastic wrap and crumpled it up and placed it onto the square. I left it pressed to the square until it dried, and then I removed the wrap.

The second square (middle and top), was inspired by a Swedish Fish. The taste of the Swedish Fish was smooth, sweet, and soothing. I immediately thought of blues, sage greens, and soft purples. So I mixed up some blues and greens and purples. Using the wet on wet method, I added my blue and purple colors onto the area. Once that was dry, I added some green without the square being wet this time. After it had dried once again, I dampened my brush and blended the edges of the green that had stayed behind from the last layer.

The third square (top right) was inspired by a ruffles potato chip. The taste was smooth and mellow with pops of salt, so I did a wet on wet of a yellow and an earthy, toned-down orange. Once the paint was down and I was happy with it, I sprinkled on some salt. After it dried, I swept the salt off, revealing starburst shapes.

The fourth (lower left) square was inspired by a carrot. The carrot had subtle earthy flavors. As I was thinking about a carrot, I thought about how it comes directly out of the ground, so I thought of some browns and greens. I started with just adding the paint directly to the square without putting water on it first and using the wet on wet technique. This was just direct. After both colors were put down, I then blended the colors with a dampened brush. After that layer had dried, I used the colors again and with the direct technique. For this top layer, I thought about the surface texture of a carrot and the bumps and lines that they contain. So I created negative space using the green and brown to give implied simplified lines found on the surface of a carrot.

The fifth (bottom center) square was inspired by a corn chip. The flavor was subtle and soothing to me, but the texture is what really made me be inspired. I chose purple because of its subtleness and yellow as a compliment color to mirror the color of the actual chip and its corn flavor. Before putting the colors down, I took the wax and colored curved scratches onto the surface of the square. Unfortunately, it is difficult to see where the marks have been made. Once I felt the lines were there, I then painted the purple onto the square. After that dried, I took the wax again and created circles. These circles and curved lines are to represent the bumpy texture of the chip. I washed over the surface with the yellow color, revealing the purple circles. Because the square became a little muddied up, I blotted the surface with a paper towel.

The sixth (lower right) and final square was inspired by salsa. The bold flavor of the tomatoes made me think of the color red, also mirroring my love for tomatoes. I washed the square with a dulled red, and then came back with spots of yellow. After I was happy with how the colors looked, I then took some rubbing alcohol and dripped some from a paintbrush onto the paint, creating lightened spots. After that had dried, I then splattered and dripped on green and yellow to represent the individual pops of flavor from the onions and peppers.

After all the squares were dry, I carefully removed all of the tape.

I learned many new techniques from this project. I was able to experiment with watercolor, which I had never really done before. It was exciting to try and find a new technique, or do an old technique in a new unique way. I was definitely challenged in trying to come up with new things to do in each of the squares. They began to look the same to me, so it was important for me to try and switch things up in the next squares. This helped me practice a little more creativity.