Emotions fuel many artists, whether the paintings are abstract, textured or otherwise. Paint in a happy mood, and the end result will differ greatly from a work of art created when feeling sad. Pull on these emotions to bring about textural patterns, and allow the audience to feel what the artist felt during the painting’s creation. Textures that invoke anger look like scattered, jagged lines in shades of red that create a textural sense of roughness; sadness flows in continuous waves of blue and urges a smooth texture. Each individual’s emotional representations differ, and all are unique. Use emotional inspirations to make abstract paintings that contain an implied sense of both texture and meaning.
Gesso is an artist’s medium made from chalk and other materials. When gesso is mixed with sand and white glue, canvases can be turned into sculpted three-dimensional surfaces ideal for abstract painting. This painting idea is the perfect way to create literal texture in a work of art. The gesso mixture dries to a hard surface after being applied and sculpted to form peaks and valleys. Use any type of medium to cover the raised design.
For an abstract painting that is truly unique, mix multiple types of materials in one design. After painting the canvas in an abstract pattern, use adhesive to attach fabric, scraps of metal, Styrofoam or other items. Layer the design with textures, and use the depth of the materials to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece like no other.
A very abstract painting idea uses music as stimulation for textural images. Music has beats and rhythms, and also creates vibrations. These auditory occurrences spark a creative approach to the repetitious nature of textural designs. Feel each beat or crescendo with every brush stroke, and use the perceived understanding of its visual translation to create a stunning abstract textured painting.
Nature offers a multitude of abstract textured painting ideas. Nature is full of textures, colors and detailed patterns. Painting an image of the ocean, forest or other natural scene automatically develops texture through the repeated lines and colors. Bits of bark are coarse and varied, pine needles are homogeneous, and sand is grainy. All of these things foster a creative approach to adding texture to an abstract painting idea. Adhere actual pieces of nature to a canvas for genuinely nature-inspired abstract artwork.