Why Texture Matters in Abstract Art

When people see my work in person for the first time, they almost always reach out to touch it. And I love that reaction — because texture is the thing that separates a painting from a picture. It’s what makes original art feel alive.

I think about texture constantly when I’m working. It’s not an afterthought or a happy accident. It’s a deliberate choice in every single piece I create. And if you’re looking at buying original abstract art, understanding texture will completely change how you evaluate what you’re seeing.

Building Up: The Palette Knife

Most people think of paintings as something made with brushes. And sure, I use brushes — but my palette knife is where the real character happens. A palette knife lets me build up thick ridges of paint, create sharp edges, and lay down broad sweeps of color that catch light in ways a brush simply can’t.

When you look at one of my larger pieces up close, you’ll see these built-up areas where the paint stands half an inch off the canvas. That dimensionality is what gives the work presence in a room. It’s not flat. It’s not quiet. It demands your attention, and it changes throughout the day as the light shifts.

The Art of Layering

Every painting I create has multiple layers — sometimes dozens. I’ll lay down a base, let it dry, then come back and add more. Sometimes I’m building on what’s there. Sometimes I’m partially covering it so just a hint of color peeks through.

This layering is what gives abstract art its depth. When you look at a well-layered painting, your eye finds something new every time. There are colors buried underneath that subtly influence what you see on the surface. There’s history in every piece — decisions made and revised, moments of spontaneity preserved under deliberate marks.

Mixed Media: Where It Gets Interesting

I work with acrylic, but I also incorporate mixed media elements into many of my pieces. This might mean adding materials that create unexpected textures — grit, smoothness, raised patterns that you can feel under your fingertips.

Mixed media is where I push the boundaries of what a painting can be. It’s not just something you look at. It becomes something you experience. The surface tells a story that goes beyond the visual.

Resin: The Finishing Touch

Some of my pieces incorporate resin, and it completely transforms the surface. Resin creates a glass-like finish that’s incredibly smooth and almost liquid-looking. The contrast between the thick, textured paint underneath and the glossy resin surface creates this tension that’s hard to look away from.

Resin also deepens the colors underneath and gives the piece a luminous quality that photographs never fully capture. It’s one of those things you really have to see — and touch — in person.

Subtraction: Sometimes Less Is More

Not everything in my process is about adding. Sometimes the most interesting textures come from taking away. I’ll scrape back through wet layers to reveal what’s underneath, or sand through dried paint to create weathered, organic surfaces.

This subtraction technique is how I create those moments in a painting that feel lived-in and authentic. The surface isn’t precious or perfect — it has marks and history, just like anything in the real world worth paying attention to.

What to Look For When Buying

If you’re shopping for abstract art, here’s my advice: always try to see the work in person before you buy. Photos flatten everything. They can’t show you the way light plays across a textured surface or how a painting changes when you walk past it from different angles.

When you’re looking at a piece, pay attention to the surface. Run your eyes across it. Look at it from the side. Notice where the artist built up material and where they held back. Great abstract art has intention behind every mark — the texture isn’t random, it’s composed.

And if you can’t see work in person, reach out to the artist. I’m always happy to send detail shots and videos that show the true texture of a piece. It matters that much.

Browse my collection to see pieces where texture tells the story, or reach out about a commission if you want something created specifically for your space.