STIPPLING

Stippling is the creation of a pattern simulating varying degrees of solidity or shading by using small dots. Such a pattern may occur in nature and these effects are frequently emulated by artists.

About StipplingStippling can be done with a wide variety of mediums, works well with printing techniques and can create optical illusions when done by a skilled artist.

The technique became popular as a means of producing shaded line art illustrations for publication, because drawings created this way could be reproduced in simple black ink.

Portraits and general subject drawings made out of many ink dots laid carefully side by side are often called pointillism or stipple.

Pointillism is the color version of a stipple portrait. As colored dots are placed adjacent to each other, when the viewer moves further away, the colors seem to blend to the eye, creating a new color.

Christine Farmer does a lot of pen and ink work using stippling. You can see examples of her work here. She says, "Stippling as a technique requires precision, skill, and concentration, and I like the fact that progress is necessarily slow and steady.”

Adam Todd drew this with a rapidograph for the Koh-i-noor company.

A rapidograph is an inking tool used by artists and draftmen. It comes in different sized points and draws a very smooth line or dots without clogging up or blotting.

STIPPLED SCRIPTThe shaded top and bottom portions of each shade stroke, leaves a light, unstippled highlight in the center. While it's relatively easy to produce dark stippling, stipple shading requires a lighter touch, as the shading must feather-out and get lighter and less dense as you move toward lighter areas.

Demonstrated here is how to texture the wide portions (called 'shade strokes') of script lettering to produce strong, dark lettering.

Some artists have even abandoned the tattoo machine and now specialize in dot shading tattoos using the hand-poke method. If you’d like to get a tattoo done in the stipple shading style, it’s important that you realize that not all dotwork tattoos are created equal.

If the artist isn’t patient, they won’t achieve the desired results. Don’t think that dots don’t require artistic skill – subtlety and delicate gradients are very important in this kind of tattoo.

STIPPLE SHADING TATTOOING BY THOMAS HOOPER

Noli Novak is a New Jersey-based artist who grew up on the Croatian island of Korchula. Since 1987 Noli Novak has been producing some of the finest Wall Street Journal stipple portraits.

Stippling is the technique of using small dots to simulate varying degrees of solidity or shading. Noli Novak’s style is favored by corporate clients for its intricate detail and emphasis on capturing likeness. All of her drawings are hand drawn using pen and ink.

Some Chopticon drawings and exercises.

Some more “stippling” drawings

ASSIGNMENT ONEVALUE SCALE AND SPHERE

Shade one value scale (10 shades only) using the stippling technique. Always start with the darkest value.

Here is an example showing how I can make a flat circle look like a round sphere:

This will be the model you will use for your sphere. Be sure to show gradation, modeled shadows, and cast shadows.

HW 3 MAGAZINE STIPPLING ASSIGNMENT

Contour line (light) done in pencil. Line erased upon completion of the assignment. No outline present in pencil or pen.

Demonstrates appropriate values using proper shading technique (stippling). Technique demonstrates shading using dots. No “tails” present.

Hard vs. soft shadows according to light source proximity/intensity

Demonstrate proper textures through the use of high contrast and gradation.

LINE, VALUE, AND TEXTURE

SCORING RUBRIC

EYE LEVELS

SCORING RUBRIC

Demonstrate comprehension of the concept of eye levels (above, on, and below)

EFFORT AND PARTICIPATION

SCORING RUBRIC

Student never needed to be reminded to stay on task.

Made good use of class time and really put forth enormous effort and thought in the creation of the work.

Always prepared for class.

Clear evidence of planning and budgeting time in order to complete a quality project on time

CRAFTSMANSHIP

SCORING RUBRIC

Artwork demonstrates a high quality and attention to details.

Neatness was of primary concern.

Paper is neat and clean.

Shading is accurate, decisive, and shows gradation of value where appropriate.