This a good way to introduce texture without allowing it to overwhelm content. This will make updating your information easier and quicker. Always remember, not everyone has the same system. Some end-users are viewing the internet via powerbooks or small monitors. Macintoshes will display colors more brightly than Windows.
Different browsers display sites differently.
There are still 9600 baud modems out there. Everyone is viewing the site differently, so check your designs on as many different configurations as you can to make your designs pleasing to all. To encourage users to read a block of text, try enlarging just the first letter. Use artwork to add a point of interest to or facilitate understanding of your content. Remember, graphic intensive sites are slow sites.