Beyond Paradise, Elena Parashko, oil on gesso-textured canvas, 31x31in (80x80cm)

How to create a variety of textures for your oil paintings using gesso and other more heavy-body mediums.

Oil paints have a thick, buttery consistency, which has the potential to produce a textured surface in a painting. They let you choose whether to blend colours for a smooth finish. Or you can use more paint and bold brushstrokes for a textured look.

The long drying time of oils does limit you as to how thickly you can apply the paint. The thicker the paint application, the longer it will take to dry... it can take many months. To help with this there are a variety of mediums you can apply to canvas or board. You can then create the desired texture with the medium first and then paint over it with a thin layer of oil paint.

You can use texture to enhance the visual quality of a painting. More traditional subjects might benefit from subtle texture. Contemporary works can cope with stronger textures, perhaps even making the texture a tactile feature.

Light texture with gesso

Hopskotch, Elena Parashko, oil, 47x59in (120x150cm). This is a contemporary painting featuring different sections of texture created using a variety of different tools.

For a subtle texturing effect, gesso can be used. Ready to use canvas panels already have a smooth coat of white gesso. By applying a thicker coat of gesso you can create a different surface texture.

For a random brushstroke texture, use an old brush to apply the gesso thickly and roughly.

Texturing gesso with a ball of clingfilm

For a soft bumpy surface texture, spread gesso thickly over the entire canvas surface with a palette knife. Then roll clingfilm into a ball and lightly dab over the whole surface, allowing small peaks to form. Leave the gesso to dry for a few hours then paint over the surface.

Textured gesso surface ready to paint on

Take some time to work the first layer of paint into the many small recesses so don't have white canvas showing through the painting. In subsequent layers, adapt your painting style to accommodate this texture.

Try not to be too heavy handed otherwise you will lose the dramatic effects of the textured surface. Lightly apply the final layers of colour so the darker underpainting colours are still visible in the low areas. The raised areas will then catch the lighter midtones and highlights.

This textured surface lends itself to the wrinkly nature of hibiscus petals

Impasto effects

The texture for this poppy was created with a palette knife. The slightly textured background was achieved by spreading the impasto medium with the flat bottom of a palette knife, similar to icing a cake. Thicker paint was scooped onto the poppy petals and stem then shaped and scratched with the tip of a palette knife.

If you're new to oils, don't stop here! Explore our other beginner-friendly guides to learn all you need to progress and develop your oil skills.

For stronger textural effects you can use mediums like modelling compound or impasto medium. Such mediums can give you a more exaggerated structure. These mediums are thick water-based pastes, which dry to an off-white matt finish. When completely dry you can then paint over them with oil paint.

Because these mediums are heavy bodied, it is easier to scoop the paste out of the tub with a spoon. You can then spread over the canvas with a palette knife. Don't use your good brushes to apply gesso or impasto mediums, the particles are difficult to wash out. The mediums will dry rock hard and ruin the brush. Wipe any excess medium off whatever tools you use with a paper towel. Finish with a final rinse under running water. 

Using an old film canister to print a circular pattern in impasto medium 

The thicker the application of medium, the more exaggerated the texture will be. Then comes the fun part of creating the desired texture. You can use anything at your disposal to act as a tool to scratch, print or scrape texture into the surface.

Using a comb to create texture in impasto medium 

Try using a fork, stick, leaf, cylindrical container or palette knife. Triangular rubber combs are available in art shops with different sized teeth on each side.

Using a palette knife to scratch a design into modelling compound 

It takes a few hours for impasto medium to dry so you have time to play around with textural effects. If you don’t like what you have done, then smooth the surface with a palette knife and start again. When you are satisfied with the result, leave overnight to dry. Once the medium is dry, it sets like concrete.

Want to learn more about how to use impasto in your oil paintings? Check out Tony Hogan's excellent webinar-on-demand, which will show you how to use heavy impasto to create a stormy waters effect.

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