celine-kim:

Hi! It’s a really good question. When you do a drawing or painting, if you put details everywhere, it tends to look very mushy and it’s inefficient at the same time. Let me give an example of how to approach detail (aka texture):

This is a gorgeous sketch layout done by Paul Felix. Notice how he uses complexity(texture/detail) in certain parts and goes simple in the other to move the eye into the drawing. It can be used as a tool to guide the eye around a layout/painting.

Here is another painting of Paul Felix! In here the details are only on the light side of the mountain and the shadow part of it is simplified. Our attention goes straight into the top/light side of the mountain and fades downwards where all the detail and textures fade out too! It can be other way around where the detail/texture is on the shadow and the lit side is simple…it depends on what kind of painting/drawing it is.

Photo-bashing is done to put texture on objects in the end too. Texture is a great tool to create rhythm and shape. It’s all part of planning out the composition to tell the story or to create certain mood!