Texture Walk

Did you know that the more time you spend in nature, the more creative you can become? It’s spring and a perfect time to get outside and go for a walk around the neighborhood or in the woods. Look for different textures along your route. Document your walk by making texture rubbings. See how many different textures you can find!

Materials

• White paper
• Something to rub with, like a crayon with peeled-off paper a pencil, charcoal, or oil pastel (use one color, or take a variety!)

Activity

1. Decide how to use your paper and arrange textures: loosely or organized? You can prepare your paper by folding it into sections. If you fold your paper in half once, then you’ll have two sections; fold it in half again, and you’ll have four sections. Fold it again, and you’ll have eight sections.
2. As you take your walk, look for different textures.
3. When you find an interesting texture, place your paper over it.
4. Holding your crayon (or other rubbing tool) sideways, rub back and forth on top of the part of the paper over the object. Make sure to apply enough pressure so the texture appears on your paper.

Questions for Engagement

• What is texture? Texture is how something feels, or how it looks like it might feel. Feel your shirt. What texture does it have? Look at some objects that you’re sitting on or standing near. What textures do they have?
• Imagine the different textures you could find on a walk around your neighborhood or in the forest. Are they different? How?
• Pierre Daura added texture to this landscape scene by the way he made marks and lines. Notice the different types of lines for the barn, the trees, the rock, and the ground. How do you think each of those would feel?

We love to see your creations! Share your rubbings with us on Instagram and Facebook by tagging @ashevilleartmuseum and using the hashtags #ashevilleartmuseum and #myashevilleart. And remember to stay safe! Here are some guidelines from REI on how to spend time outside while social distancing.