The difference between Pointillism and Stipple

[DBSullivan]

It's a common mistake made by many artists to confuse these two terms, so I wanted to take a minute to rectify this. Both techniques use dots to create an image and the confusion between the two is quite understandable.

If you are creating an ink drawing using a single color ink for the entire drawing, you are using Stipple. It doesnt matter what color it is... it's most likely black, but it could be blue, brown, red, etc... as long as the entire drawing uses only one color. The idea behind stipple is to use dots to create shades and tones, contrast etc.

Pointillism is when dots of multiple colors are used. Instead of blending colors together as you might in an oil painting, dots of different colors are overlapped to create specific colors.

Here are two examples of Ranger Dan's work. He uses both techniques..

Here is a Stipple piece...
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/atta...d=1242328 156


And here is a Pointillism piece...
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/atta...d=1187457 179

Hope this helps!

[Hoplite]

I simply hate the word "stippling", and will willfully continue to use pointillism since it is pretty much the same application of media. Yes, I know the difference - I'll also probably continue to refer to (an ammo) magazine as a clip, even though I know better on that account, too.

[Bluegill]

Originally Posted by Hoplite

I simply hate the word "stippling", and will willfully continue to use pointillism since it is pretty much the same application of media. Yes, I know the difference - I'll also probably continue to refer to (an ammo) magazine as a clip, even though I know better on that account, too.

Hey, that gives me a great idea! Let's drag this out for 6 or 7 pages arguing about it!

[Hoplite]

Originally Posted by Bluegill

Hey, that gives me a great idea! Let's drag this out for 6 or 7 pages arguing about it!

He referred to it as a "mistake". I am aware of the difference (and since I just used the term "pointillism" on another thread were Dave also contributed, I rather suspect I at least sparked his comment). I'm just letting him know it wasn't a mistake per se, just my idiosyncratic usage. So, no particular argument.

And no, I won't bite on another troll - you wanna drag it out, that's entirely on your head.

[RainySea]

Hm. . . I didn't know that. Interesting!

[DBSullivan]

I started this thread to educate those who aren't familiar with the difference between these two terms, because if I were using an incorrect term about anything, I would appreciate someone letting me know. I didnt make this stuff up and this isnt my opinion. There is really no need to debate it, argue it, discuss it, or even to defend your choice to ignore it. Sure... I could remind you of the negative effect it may have on your credibility as an artist if you used the wrong term to describe your work to a gallery, a client, an agent, etc but honestly... you can call a baseball bat a frying pan for all i care.

Therefore, Hoplite, this thread was apparently not posted for you... it's for anyone out there who didn't know this information but would like to know.

[Hoplite]

Originally Posted by DBSullivan

I started this thread to educate those who aren't familiar with the difference between these two terms, because if I were using an incorrect term about anything, I would appreciate someone letting me know. I didnt make this stuff up and this isnt my opinion.

No one said otherwise. Here, I'll reinforce it in case anyone got the wrong impression - you are quite correct. In fact, since there are many beginners who don't know otherwise, my usage is misleading and I'll use the formally correct ones from here on out, regardless of my irrational dislike of a particular term.

There is really no need to debate it, argue it, discuss it, or even to defend your choice to ignore it.

Since you appreciate being let known about being incorrect, you are quite incorrect. If you didn't want it discussed, you need to post it in a locked terminology thread, rather than as a discussion thread. Which I think might be a good idea!

But since it isn't, yeah, we get to do all those things.

Sure... I could remind you of the negative effect it may have on your credibility as an artist if you used the wrong term to describe your work to a gallery, a client, an agent, etc ...

How I discuss things in a formal situation as opposed to an informal meant-to-be-friendly-and fun-one are two different things.

...but honestly... you can call a baseball bat a frying pan for all i care.

Ummmmm, so why the post in the first place? You care. It's okay to admit it. Thank you for taking the effort. But honestly back at ya, you don't need to get quite so huffy about it. I wasn't questioning you, just explaining myself. Don't know why you seem to be offended by that, but I offer you my sincere apologies. It was not my intent to be argumentative, just explain myself.

[gakinme]

Thank you, Dave, for the information. I never knew the difference. Now I know.

[Hazartist]

I appreciated this information very much...along with the examples. Beautiful!

Thanks!

[LeslieErica]

Thank you, Dave, for the information. I am new to pen and ink, and I appreciate learning all that I can. I thought the terms were used interchangeably, and it IS important to learn that they are not, and I, for one needed to learn that. Thanks for the outstanding examples also.

[DBSullivan]

Hoplite - dude it's cool! I'm a really laid back and chill guy... i wasnt offended at all and I apologize if I came off as being huffy. I do alot of writing and i sometimes have a tendency to "write" instead of "talk". sorry for the confusion!

gakinme, Hazartist, & LeslieErica, glad I could help!

[Hoplite]

Originally Posted by DBSullivan

Hoplite - dude it's cool! I'm a really laid back and chill guy... i wasnt offended at all and I apologize if I came off as being huffy. I do alot of writing and i sometimes have a tendency to "write" instead of "talk". sorry for the confusion!

gakinme, Hazartist, & LeslieErica, glad I could help!

Then we be good!

[Blah]

Dave...Thank you for this thread. Until now I had thought that both the terms meant rendering with dots, regardless of whether it was in a single colour or not.

[PVHooper]

Hey DB

While I appreciate your definitions, most helpful to clarify, never realised this, but was wondering when and by whom these definitions were defined. Just interested... is it traditionally accepted for instance

Thx boet

[katwalk]

George Seurat the French painter developed a style of painting called Pointillism with a few others in the mid/late 1800's. He used dots of color to create his paintings, time consuming and rather amazing considering the size of some of his canvases. According to what I have read it is specifically technique of painting dots of color next to each other, sometimes complementary. Seurat studied color theory and applied it to his paintings. You can check out a short article here or just Google his name for images and other references.