GIU Day Two - Design Principles

Welcome back to day two of my GIU week. Be sure to comment for your chance at winning some deeply etched red rubber of your very own.

Today I'm all about the texture. I feel that texture is an important design element as it helps bring a sense of 3-D to a 2-D medium. Our brains love texture. Think about looking at something perfectly smooth, say a clear marble. There isn't much interest in looking at a clear marble, your eyes just sort of glide over it and move on to the next thing. But we're trying to engage the viewer, make them linger, so think of one of those fancy marbles. You know, the ones with the cool inside swirls. Your eye lingers over these marbles, trying to figure out how they got so much texture inside. They take up the same space, yet the cool marbles seem more 3-D that the clear ones; there's something flat about them, even though they are round.

Cool lesson, Mooney, but how does this relate to cards? Glad you asked! We want our viewer's eyes to linger over our hard work and adding texture helps with this. We are working in a 2-D format, so how can we add texture.

Texture Using Textured Items

I know that sounds kind of simple, but I think we often forget the value of textiles on our cards. One of my favorite textiles to use is burlap. Burlap is so interesting and can be used in many ways. It can be used as mat, in place of paper. It can be used like one would use a banner or washi tape. It can be used to ground, even as ground itself. You don't have to stick to burlap though. Fabric, twine, pom poms are all examples of textiles. You can even fold, tear, and scrunch paper to give texture.

 

Country Mouse Hello

Texture Using Art Mediums

There are a variety of textured art mediums out there. Modeling paste, gesso, mousse, glitter, thick paint, you get the idea. These items can be used just straight on the page, through a stencil, stamping, the sky is the limit. Adding these to your project draws your viewer in and makes them want to touch it.

Say It Big

Texture Using Dimension

You can create texture just by adding dimension. This litterally takes your 2-D project and makes it a 3-D one. The most popular and easy method is to use pop dots or foam tape. I love the look I achieve by elevating parts of my card. Another way to add dimension is to add layers. Paper layers really do a lot to add physical dimension as well as perceived dimension. As you can see, I even added distressed edges on two of the papers and crinkled my deli paper, adding even more texture.

Big Summertime Bouquet, Sometimes I Wonder

Texture Using Illusion

We don't have to use actual texture or dimension. There are ways to fool the brain into thinking there is dimension on a card. This is particularly advantageous on a single layer card. Here are some ways that I use illusion to create texture.

Texture background stamp: Unity has a number of awesome texture stamps. I'm thinking the newest stamps by Brutus Monroe, for example. You can have the look of textile with just ink.

Splatters: I'm not sure why splatters add texture, I just know if I feel a card is missing something, I often add splatters. Maybe our brains think those lil dots of ink are raised.

Masking: you can give the illusion of dimension by masking your focal image, then adding the background on top of it. Once you pull the mask off, you're left with the feeling that it's actually popped up, when it isn't.

Shadowing: Adding a shadow around a person or object fools the brain into thinking they are 3 dimensional instead of flat pieces of paper. Don't forget to shadow and highlight within too. The brain thinks there are valleys and hill that the light is hitting differently.

Steps Of Courage, With You I'm Home

I hope you found today's post useful. These are just some things that I think about when I'm creating.  Be sure to comment for your chance to win the deeply etched red rubber and while you're at it, subscribe via email so you can keep up to date at what is going on in my craft room.

Until tomorrow, happy stamping!