Mastering Textures and Colours in Art: Inspired by Angela Hawkey
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Mastering Textures and Colours in Art: Inspired by Angela Hawkey
Whether you're an experienced artist or just starting out, learning how to work with textures and colours is key to creating compelling, visually rich artwork. These two elements bring depth, emotion, and personality to your pieces — and no one understands this better than Angela Hawkey.
Known for her bold, joyful style, Angela Hawkey’s work is a vibrant exploration of texture and colour. From expressive abstracts to striking seascapes and landscapes, her art lights up homes and workspaces with movement and life. If you’ve ever stood in front of one of her prints and felt uplifted — that’s no accident. It’s the magic of colour theory and texture at play.
In this post, we’ll dive into how you can harness the power of colour and texture in your own work or deepen your appreciation the next time you visit a gallery.
The Foundation: Understanding Colour Theory
Creating great art with colour starts with understanding colour theory — the science behind how colours interact and influence one another. While it might sound technical, it’s really just about learning how to mix, match, and balance colours in a way that evokes feeling and draws the eye.
A key tool is the colour wheel, which shows how primary, secondary, and tertiary colours relate. From here, you can build:
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Complementary colour schemes (opposites on the wheel, like blue and orange) for bold contrast,
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Or analogous colour schemes (neighbours on the wheel, like blue, blue-green, and green) for a more harmonious, calming effect.
Angela’s work often explores both: soft, coastal palettes in her beachscapes create a soothing effect, while her abstract pieces explode with contrasting hues for maximum impact.
Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to get messy. Great art often starts with a wild mix of colours that somehow, in the end, just work.
Creating Texture: Beyond the Brush
Texture brings the feel of a painting to life — even when you’re just looking at it. It adds depth and movement, turning a two-dimensional surface into a dynamic experience.
Angela frequently uses a palette knife to layer thick oil paint in ways that almost leap off the canvas. These bold, tactile strokes capture everything from the shimmer of a sunlit wave to the roughness of eucalyptus bark in the bush.
You can experiment with:
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Watercolours for soft, fluid textures,
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Oil paints for rich, sculptural effects,
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Pastels or pencils for fine lines or velvety blending.
Different materials create different moods, so try mixing and matching. Sometimes the most interesting textures come from unexpected combinations.
Bringing It All Together: Mixing Texture and Colour
Once you’re comfortable with both elements, the real magic happens when you combine them. Think of it as building layers of personality — colour sets the tone, and texture gives it depth.
You might:
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Pair delicate pastels with a splash of bold acrylic,
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Layer thick oil paint over a fine charcoal sketch,
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Or even combine traditional tools with found materials for a mixed-media effect.
Angela often layers contrasting textures and tones to create a sense of movement — like sea foam swirling in the surf or wind rippling through native grass.
Experiment freely — there’s no right or wrong. Some of the most unforgettable pieces come from taking risks and pushing past the expected.
The Big Picture
Mastering texture and colour isn’t just about technique — it’s about expressing emotion, telling stories, and connecting with others through your art. Whether you’re creating or collecting, understanding these elements will deepen your relationship with every brushstroke, every hue, and every artwork that catches your eye.
So next time you find yourself in a gallery or holding a paintbrush, take a moment to really notice the textures and colours. What do they make you feel? What story are they telling?
About Angela Hawkey
Angela Hawkey is a celebrated Australian artist whose expressive palette knife oil paintings have found homes in collections across the globe — from the US and UK to Germany, South Korea, and beyond. Her work is a joyful exploration of texture, colour, and movement, designed to lift the heart and spark imagination.
Explore Angela’s original artworks and discover the perfect piece to bring colour and character into your space.