by Georgia Lange
The trend of using text as a texture in art is one that is increasing in popularity. There are many different ways in which to incorporate this technique, and it can be applied to many different trades, including fine art, illustration, graphic design, and digital photography. One of the most interesting aspects of this technique is that it can be manipulated to suit just about any artist’s style. One method, which is most commonly used amongst graphic designers, is to use text to fill or create a shape. Another method, one of the most popular, is to use found text as a working surface or background, drawing and/or painting directly on the text. Many artists who work primarily in a digital atmosphere use handwriting to add texture to their works.
So why, you might ask, is text becoming such a widely used material for the creation of art? What makes this technique so popular? In the world of graphic design, it is perhaps a little more obvious, but the answers are ultimately the same. First, is it an intriguing way to create texture, because it forces the viewer to look closer. Most importantly, it assists in telling the story of the piece. In short, it makes the viewer think, but not to such an extent that the he or she feels that the work is “beyond comprehension” and thus gets bored and loses interest. Text has the ability to help guide its audience to the meaning of the work. And let’s just admit it; it simply looks cool!
