Painting through Texture
Painting from feeling, not formula. Abstract + textured art that connects us, color by color.
Welcome to my website! I’m Margaret Pereida, a mixed-media painter based in North Carolina. My work begins with feeling—often the things that are difficult to express—and develops through layers of paint, texture, and unexpected materials.
I’m interested in the space between what we experience internally and what we can make visible. Each painting is an exploration of that relationship, and an invitation for you to find something of your own within it.
2026, 36in × 36in, acrylic paint, modeling paste, and glass on canvas.
Allegory emerged slowly, revealing itself layer by layer through a deliberate and intuitive process. Inspired by the vastness of the ocean and the mysteries that exist beneath its surface, the piece became an exploration of depth, patience, and surrender.
What began as a singular idea gradually transformed over time, guided as much by instinct as intention. Each texture and contour was carefully uncovered, allowing the work to evolve naturally rather than forcing a fixed outcome. Much like the sea itself, the painting carries a quiet emotional weight — one that speaks to persistence, trust, and the unseen layers that shape us.
Throughout the process, I was drawn to the parallels between nature and human experience: the way depth is formed slowly, and how meaning often reveals itself over time rather than all at once. The layered surfaces within the piece reflect that unfolding — a meditation on intuition, vulnerability, and the beauty found beneath what is immediately visible.
2026, 24in × 36in, acrylic paint, and mixed media on canvas.
Paths explores the balance between intention and discovery. While the composition began from an initial sketch, the work evolved organically through layers of texture, and movement, allowing the piece to reveal its own direction. Rich surfaces and intersecting forms create a visual journey that invites contemplation, reflecting the idea that meaningful paths are often found through trust, adaptation, and the unfolding of the unknown.
2025, 24in × 36in, acrylic paint, modeling paste, and glass on canvas.
Inspired by Lana Del Rey’s “Brooklyn Baby,” this work translates sound into surface through layered materials, texture, and color. The composition reflects the rhythm of the song—building movement through shifts in depth, contrast, and structure.
Soft and defined elements interact across the surface, creating visual tension between smooth areas and textured buildup. Through layering, the piece develops a sense of emotional architecture, where form, surface, and space work together to create balance and contrast.
Rather than illustrating the song directly, the work responds to its atmosphere—using material presence to express feeling, intuition, and the space between sound and silence.
2024, 24in x 36in, acrylic paint and mixed media on canvas.
The Balance was created using acrylic paint and mixed media on canvas, building depth through layered surfaces, texture, and structured composition. The work emphasizes contrast—where dense, textured areas interact with more open space to create visual tension and movement.
Through layering and material buildup, the surface reflects the dynamic between resistance and forward motion. Shifts in form and texture guide the eye across the canvas, allowing light to highlight variations in depth and structure.
Rather than depicting a narrative directly, the piece uses material presence—texture, balance, and spatial rhythm—to explore momentum, resilience, and the equilibrium between stillness and progress.
2019, 20in x 20in, acrylic paint, and mixed media.
This work was constructed through layered application, building surface, depth, and subtle movement over time. Each layer contributes to the overall structure, creating visual dimension that becomes more apparent the longer the viewer engages with the piece.
Through texture and material buildup, the composition reflects natural processes—where accumulation and variation create rhythm, balance, and calm. Light interacts with the surface to emphasize shifts in depth, allowing the work to reveal itself gradually.
Rather than depicting nature directly, the piece responds to its qualities—using layered materials and tactile surface treatment to explore presence, stillness, and visual depth.
2024, 36in x 36in, acrylic paint and modeling paste.
This work was developed through layered texture, movement, and contrast to create depth and visual presence. The surface was built gradually, allowing variations in material application to shape rhythm, structure, and balance across the canvas.
Through intentional layering and compositional contrast, the piece emphasizes interaction between surface elements—where textured areas and open space work together to create energy and focus. Light engages with the material as they grow, revealing shifts in depth and form as the viewer moves around the work.
Rather than centering on a single moment, the painting reflects the cumulative process of making—using texture, structure, and material presence to communicate emotion in a tangible, lasting form.
See the work before everyone else!
A first look, before the work is released.
I’m currently creating a new collection, and I’d love to share the process with you.
Join my collector preview list for:
-First looks at new paintings
-Early access to available work
-Exhibition announcements
Join my email list below:
Email: artist.mpereida@gmail.com
Instagram: @texturedbymarty