How to Make a Stippling Painting

A technique invented by Giulio Campagnola in 1510, stippling later became popular all over Europe and then in America. We see an image in a stippling painting the way we see an image on a TV, through pixels. The pixels in the case of a stippling painting are dots of color, combined to create an image that conveys thought, meaning and imagination. Are you ready to try your hand at stippling?

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Watercolor paints
• Cotton swabs
• Water
• Cups
• Paper or canvas

1. Pour paint into your cups. Use one for water.

2. Dip the cotton swabs into the color of paint you wish to use to start. If you are making a landscape, for example, start dipping and making your green dots all over the hill.

3. Stippling is not to paint solid colors, so on that hill you would also mix in some blue and yellow dots. This will give texture as well.

4. Fill in and layer the object you are painting using just dots.

5. Know that one of the greatest things about stippling is that it is difficult to make mistakes that cannot be fixed. If you put a dot where you do not want it, cover it with other dots that will look better. This will take time. Stippling paintings should have a few layers of dots so you will have more than one chance to achieve your artistic vision.

6. Let your finished project dry, then mount and display it.