I’ve recently started collecting my own photographic texture images. For no particular reason, since I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do with these, but I find so many of them beautiful for their own sake.

Once you start looking, beautiful textures can be found everywhere in the environment. Most people are familiar with finding texture in the natural world, whether it be in rocks, pebbles, tree bark, fallen leaves, lichen etc., such as the one below which I took on our holiday in the mountains recently.

But the urban environment also has lots to offer, from rusting metal, flaking paint, and weathered wood, to the texture of concrete or the layers of torn and weathered billboard posters. The image below is a close up of a paint spillage on concrete steps – to me it almost has the look of a woodland landscape.

So it’s well worth while going on a texture treasure hunt wherever you find yourself. In fact beautiful textures can be found in even the most mundane environments – for example the following photograph is a close up of the copper base of my frying pan which I noticed the other day was full of subtle and beautiful colours and tones as well as texture.

Or how about this image taken inside our tent one thoroughly rainy day…

This is the kind of simple activity which can also be carried out with older children who are able to use a camera, but even with younger children, armed with some sheets of paper and a wax crayon for taking rubbings, texture treasure hunts are a rewarding activity to try both indoors or out.

The beauty of these images requires no ehancement, but  simple photographs such as these can be manipulated further into a completely different work of art in their own right with minimal digital manipulation. To create the transformed images below, I just increased the contrast and saturation levels of the original image, something that even the simplest online photo editing tools will usually allow you to do.

The image can then be printed out and used in lots of different ways, for example:

• As an art background for further embellishment.

• As decorative paper for collage, journal or scrapbook work.

• To create stationery, cards or bookmarks.

• If you’re handy with a sewing machine you could even buy some sheets of printable fabric
  to make small gifts such as pencil cases or purses.

• Alternatively you can use this unique fabric, for patchwork or applique.

• Enlarge, frame and create your own contemporary artwork.

• To inspire a colour scheme for other creative work, or for a more subtle palette you can use the original image in the same way- visit www.colourlovers.com if you want to have a go. I created the following 2 palettes from 2 of the enhanced images above, using their Photocopa tool. It’s yet another fun but time-eating online activity to add to my growing collection!

I don’t know where to start – so many ideas, so little time!