Care to share any "out of the ordinary" texture tools you use?

Karl Becker

Mac-Valve Maestro!
I know there are hundreds, if not thousands of texture stencils available for purchase to achieve just about any texture you can think of. However, I'm a cheap SOB and like to look for more readily available items to use if possible. I've seen videos of folks using torn paper towel, used dryer sheets, quilt filler, etc. to achieve decent looking random and organic textures.

In my limited experience, I've tried some of those. One I came up with on my own was a scrap piece of fiberglass window screen. Pet screen, to be specific (thicker lines, smaller holes). When used freehand at various distances and directions, I thought the results were cool. I've also been using the end bristles of a crap 1.5" paint brush to create fur when my other attempts failed. I'm digging that as well.

You are obviously a creative cast of characters. What sort of random household items have you found useful for creating whatever texture you were going for at the time?

Thanks!
 
Give me half an hour, I’ll line mine up and upload a pic :) I have (more than I probably need) texture/random pattern stencil but some of the best results come from non laser cut stencils
General rule : try it and see
 
Some steel wool, a couple more scourers and some remay/sew-in interfacing. I do have dryer sheets but found the interfacing easier because it doesn't have 'stuff' on it. the dryer sheets I have to wash, then dry to get all the stuff off. they do work well but I'm lazy so I buy the interfacing by the metre.

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I use an embroidery frame to hold the interfacing/remay tight and easy to hold.
I do have some quilt filler somewhere but I've just moved everything into the house from the shed so it could be anywhere.
Ladies stockings are also used in the embroidery frame,
there are some interesting textures to be found in everyday life if you open your eyes

upload_2020-10-29_13-4-28.png

This is the effect that this gives. unreduced CI Black
Measurement is the distance I was spraying from. The frame was the same distance (about a thumb thickness from the paper)
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Torn paper is great for organic lines/edges.
paper towels, cardboard from my coffee pods/cereal boxes/tissue boxes are all invaluable.

"Random'' is the hardest thing to do :laugh:
The random look is exactly what I'm interested in. As you stated, the laser cut stencils that are meant to look random still have hard edges, so I'm reluctant to spend money on them. I'm sure they work well if you are experienced with them, but, well... it's me we are talking about.
 
I once used a man external deck stain brush as a stencil for hair. You have to flatten it out a lot, but the effect wasn’t too bad.


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Taking a tip from another video I watched, I took one of the cheap brushes I bought and cut about 2/3 of the bristles off so there was a pretty thin layer left all the way across the brush. When you lay it flat, the remaining bristle spread out pretty easily. I haven't played with that one much yet. The one I did use I specifically left the bristles thick so the paint would only penetrate the 1/8" or so at the tip of the brush. I used it to create the outline around the sides and bottom of the cat's head.

cat.jpg
 
I have pretty much the same, drier sheet, scourer, mesh screen, onion/orange bags, wire wool, torn paper, old brushes, multistrand wire, great when unravelled and stretched out for hair, it's good because you can bend it to shape! Lace, net curtain, feathers, leaves, cotton wool, any loose weave material. Anything you can spray through is a tool. Gerald Mendez's mini texture pack is good. I keep cereal boxes too, they are brilliant for making stencils, they're stiff enough to withstand quite heavy use and last for ages as they are normally coated.

Lee
 
I have pretty much the same, drier sheet, scourer, mesh screen, onion/orange bags, wire wool, torn paper, old brushes, multistrand wire, great when unravelled and stretched out for hair, it's good because you can bend it to shape! Lace, net curtain, feathers, leaves, cotton wool, any loose weave material. Anything you can spray through is a tool. Gerald Mendez's mini texture pack is good. I keep cereal boxes too, they are brilliant for making stencils, they're stiff enough to withstand quite heavy use and last for ages as they are normally coated.

Lee
So, basically anything besides the underwear you currently have on that paint will go through. Got it. :D

Good call on the cereal boxes. I have some french curves and such that I cut out of normal paper file folders, but they aren't coated like the boxes. That reminds me, I've also seen people use stencils cut from beer cases. I have a few of those lying around...
 
I picked up some random fabrics from Jo-Ann's fabrics and walmart. They were originally purchased for duplicating fish scales on my fishing lures that I make, but if they get scrunched up or held further away, etc, they work great for other textures as well. Some are simple repetitive patterns others are crazy sporadic patterns. Lace is good as well. I have also been grabbing scuff pads from work and separating them and ripping them up and they seem to work very well. Cut up some old multi strand wires and spread them out, or use a paint brush like others have stated. My wife thinks i'm crazy because we go to stores and I look in the most random places at materials for stuff to use. I attached a couple pics of the netting stuff I use for the fish but works great on other stuff too. Cheese cloth works well also, but almost the same concept as the netting.
IMG_2612_Fotor.jpg IMG_2613_Fotor.jpg IMG_2614_Fotor.jpg
 
if you can see through it you can spray through it - oh hang on, you can't spray through glass / plastic / perspex. . . maybe I should have said if it has holes in it you can spray through it lol

So, basically anything besides the underwear you currently have on that paint will go through. Got it. :D

So underwear is a yes, mine have holes in :)
 
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