Drawing Techniques: Stippling

There are various drawing techniques; Crosshatching, Hatching, Smooth Shading, and Stippling. These techniques are combined to create a different feel that is unique to each piece. These techniques are used with most medias; Graphite pencils, Pen and Ink, Inked brushes, Color pencils, Crayons, Charcoals, Chalk, Pastels, Markers, and Stylus.

Stippling is the process of using uses dots to produce tone, texture or shade. This technique uses dots of different sizes to create different tones, textures or shades. The closer the groups of dots are the darker the tones, textures, and shades. Lighter tones are achieved by smaller the dots and the distance between each dot. Stippling can adjust the depth of tone and the roughness of texture by varying the density and distribution of the dots. Stippling can take on many forms. This technique can be done freehand or mechanically, with carefully or loosely arranged dots of even or uneven densities and distribution. Any small marks, not only dots, are suitable for creating a stippled effect. This technique can be used in painting, engraving, or drawing to develop tones, textures and shades to the piece of art.

In Georges Seurat’s ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’, stippling is used to focus on the landscape of the park and the people. The stippling also focuses on the issues of color, light, and form. It is study for its use of stippling, optical and color theory properties. In the painting, he contrasted miniature dots of colors that, through optical unification, form a single hue in the viewer's eye.

Another famous example of stippling is Vincent van Gogh's 'View of Arles', stippling is used in a more expressive manner to boast the natural texture of the wheat field. The technique of stippling is combined with crosshatching in order to enhance its effect and emphasis on the wheat field. The technique of combining crosshatching and stippling allows van Gogh to achieve a richer depth of color, light and form.

There are countless examples of stippling throughout art history. Just type ‘stippling’ into any of the search engines’ images searches and be amazed by what you find.