What is Stippling Art?

Stippling art is the process of using a number of small dots to create a desired image or pattern. In the stippling technique, the dots are applied using pen and ink, and they are typically made up of a single color. Black and white is the most common pigment choice. The artist manipulates the spacing of dots to create different shades throughout the drawing. As a general rule of thumb, the denser the placement of dots, the darker the shade the artist will achieve. Value changes in stippling art can also be achieved by varying the thickness of the dots applied (thicker dots are best for darker shades and vice versa).  

The Appeal of Stippling Art

Stippling art possesses unique aesthetic character compared to other drawing and painting techniques. When looking at a stippling piece from a distance, it may appear as a regular drawing or image until the viewer gets close enough to recognize the series of dots used to create the artwork. Stippling art also allows artists to be deliberate and precise in their creation of shadows and highlights. The slow process of placing individual dots allows the artist to control how dark or light they want their shades to be. The slow pace of this technique also provides the opportunity to recognize issues early on and correct them.

History of Stippling Art

The process of stippling was invented by Giulio Campagnola in 1510. Campagnola was a renowned engraving artist that invented the stippling technique to improve his variations of tone. At this point in history, engraving was typically done by hatching or cross-hatching. Campagnola figured out that engraving small dots, instead of lines, allowed him to create smoother transitions of tone. In addition to improving visual art, this new technique led to major innovations in printmaking as it allowed pressmen to transfer photographs into newspaper images.

Stippling versus Pointillism

Stippling art is often confused with the similar process of pointillism. In both techniques, the artist uses a series of dots to create a desired image. However, there are two distinctions between the two. First, stippling is done with pen and ink while pointillism uses paint and brush. Second, stippling art is normally done with a single color scheme and avoids blending dots of different colors. Pointillism is unique in that it incorporates different dot colors that blend together to create desired shades of color. This painting technique was developed by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac in the 1880s. It was initially created as a response to the more popular style of Impressionism. The technique remained popular and was later used by several famous artists such as Van Gogh and Picasso.

Tools and Supplies

If you are interested in creating stippling art, you will need a few supplies to get started. First, you need to select a heavy drawing paper that absorbs ink well. Bristol paper is great to start with. You will also want to avoid glossy paper because of its tendency to smear ink. Next, a pencil and eraser are necessary for sketching out the subject of the drawing. It is important to sketch as many details as possible to make the stippling process easier. Lastly, you need to select which pens to use. Micron and Copic pens are two great choices and are a go-to pen for many stippling artists. Both offer a wide range of tip sizes and are ideal for creating consistent dots. Experimenting with different tip sizes will help you determine which pens to use for large and small scale stippling art.

David Accurso’s Stippling Art

Emergence | 11” x 14”

Shop David's Art

David has created a wide variety of stippling art over the course of his career. He enjoys the challenge a new subject presents, and he has created many such as flowers, homes, portraits, churches, still lifes, hands, geometrics, inanimate objects, and more. As mentioned before, stippling is most commonly done in black and white, and stippling artists will typically stick with one color throughout the creation of a piece. David chooses not to limit himself to one color, and he oftentimes incorporates splashes of color that give his stippling art a unique, recognizable quality. His incorporation of color is also one of the reasons why he has been able to create so many different pieces. Stay up to date with David’s latest work by viewing his portfolio, and be sure to check out his shop to browse his selection of art prints.

Anthology Artist Reception

In September of 2019, David participated in a solo artist reception hosted by Anthology of the Plaza, a senior living facility located in Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza. Anthology of the Plaza selects a featured artist each month, and David had the opportunity of being the first selected artist. During the month of September, his work was on display in Anthology’s lobby for residents, family members, and friends to view. Several of David’s framed original pieces were chosen for the reception, and each one was displayed on a decorative easel.

Midway through the month, David participated in his solo artist reception, where he had the opportunity to speak with residents, families, and staff of Anthology about his artwork and career as an artist. Following the presentation, attendants had the chance to ask David about his preferred technique of stippling, the highlights of his career thus far, and his plans for the future. 

Near the end of September, the Plaza Art Fair took place in the heart of Country Club Plaza. As a featured artist of Anthology, David had the opportunity to participate in the event. At both the Anthology Artist Reception and the Plaza Art Fair, David’s collection of favorite pieces was on display. This collection included thirteen original works, with David’s favorites being Barn Owl, The Kauffman Center, and Geometric Abstract. View images of the display below.

In addition to having a solo artist reception, Anthology of the Plaza hired David to create a custom art piece for the senior living facility. The stippling drawing was of Anthology’s building from the view point of the Country Club Plaza. This included the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain in the foreground and Anthology’s building in the background. Once David finished the custom piece, he created several prints to be gifted to each of the living facility’s residents. Each print was hand-wrapped by David and received his signature.

The commissioned drawing of Anthology was a nice combination of color and detailing. David typically likes to include a touch of color in his stippling art, but this piece included several colors like green, blue, and sienna to capture the green grass in Mill Creek Park, the blue water of the plaza fountain, and the brown shade of Anthology’s building. The original stippling piece was requested to be 5” x 7”, so it was a challenge depicting the details of Anthology’s building and the statues in the plaza fountain.

David’s custom stippling art of Anthology of the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. The original piece was framed, and prints were made and gifted to residents of the living facility.