Texture is one of those magical elements in painting that can make your artwork truly come alive, especially when capturing the nuances of light. In this insightful Art School Live demo, artist Tom Christopher shares his innovative approach to adding texture to paintings, particularly in pastel, by using an unexpected material: house paint. This technique not only enhances the tactile quality of the painting but also helps create dynamic light effects that breathe life into plein air landscapes.
This is part of a series featuring a leader in the art community who will be joining us on the faculty of Plein Air Live in November!
Watch: An Unexpected Way to Add Texture to Your Paintings
.
For artists working en plein air, capturing the essence of natural light and atmosphere is essential. Texture helps convey the complexity of outdoor scenes, from the roughness of bark to the delicate shimmer of snow. Tom’s technique allows plein air painters to establish a textured base that interacts beautifully with pastel or other media applied later, enhancing the overall luminosity and richness of the final piece.
One of the most unique aspects of Tom’s approach is his use of acrylic semi-gloss house paint to create a textured underpainting. This method began as a happy accident when he dripped house paint onto a painting and noticed how the resulting drips and lines resembled natural textures like branches.
Tom notes that the color of the house paint can vary depending on the effect desired. For winter scenes, white paint can simulate snow texture, while warm reds or burnt umber hues work well to add warmth when layered with pastel washes.
Watch the full demonstration on how to add texture to your paintings by clicking the video preview above.
Join us for the 6th Annual Plein Air Live online art conference, featuring Tom Christopher, Kathleen Hudson, Kevin Macpherson, Kami Mendlik, and many more! The event takes place November 6-8, 2025, with an Essential Techniques Day on November 5. Learn more at PleinAirLive.com.
