Five ways to add texture with Powertex Products

In my mixed media art I use several Powertex products and techniques to create texture and there are many ways to do it. Here I’m sharing my favourites but the possibilities and combinations are endless so it’s good to try things until you find your own favourites.

I create a lot of heavily textured mixed media art so I need a strong adhesive in my paintings. Powertex Universal Medium is a strong enough adhesive for my textures but also gives a durable surface to build on. It’s ability to be a paint, adhesive and fabric hardener in one makes it the perfect choice for some of my work.

Mixed media canvas with Powertex and Powerwax by Kore Sage

Easy Structure is one of the heaviest texture pastes I’ve ever used. It holds high peaks and texture until dry. It’s perfect for priming with Powertex but I love the way it colours with paint and ink too. My top tip with Easy structure is to mix in some powder pigment. Read this blog about getting the most from your Easy Structure texture paste.

Adding sand as a texture is an ancient technique and with Powertex I can really pile it on! In this piece the sand is thick enough and adhesive enough to hold items that are pressed into it. It can be built up into dense layers, coloured and shaped like a clay or used thinly in small areas.

I’m a huge fan of rust textures in art. There’s something about the decaying layers, revealing something behind that I just love. Plus the colours can be beautiful. Rusty Powder creates a real rust and when mixed with Powertex as a binder and maybe other textures it’s sensational. On this piece I keep it simple with Transparent Powertex and the colour is fantastic.

When it comes to Powertex, many of us start here. With scraps of cotton fabric or an old t-shirt we learn to make sculptures, figures, fairy houses and textured art. I like to add fabric scraps as collage in my art. I choose fabrics with an interesting texture or by the weave and layer it into my art. Another way is to scrunch Powertex coated fabric onto my canvas, twisting it until I have a shape that I like the look of.

Mixed media canvas with Powertex and Powerwax by Kore Sage

Adding unusual textures is easy with Powertex because it’s strong enough to hold it. I’ve mixed fibres, threads, small 3d balls, wood splinters, crumbled cork, mdf shapes, metal shapes, homemade paper and more into my Powertex. I don’t always get stunning results but the joy of playing with these things is why I’m here!

Mixing in fibres, 3d balls, threads and papers

I love to experiment and I like to remember the joy is in the process, the exploration and in the moment. Not in the end result. There is a lot of fun to be had in playing with textures and you might make some great art while you’re there.

If mixed media art is what you do to express yourself, you might be interested in these articles on my blog.

Mixed media with Powertex

Rusty Powder as paint

Different ways to use Powertex

You can find some of my Powertex mixed media art in this gallery

I’m a Certified Powertex tutor in the UK and get all my supplies from Powertex UK.