Today is a day for exploring Pointillism, so let’s get to it! This is a fascinating painting technique that relies on arranging tiny dots of colour to create an image. And yes, I guess when you think about it, this was an early realisation of the power of pixels, before the digital world became a thing.
This approach to art is meticulous, and it has an incredible way of bringing vibrancy and energy to a piece. It’s also a slower, more deliberate process—one that encourages artists to work with intention, thoughtfully considering colour and value with each dot. This meditative quality can make it a rewarding and mindful way to create. Have you ever thought to try it?
Taking inspiration from Pointillism is easier to do when you know a bit more about it. Let’s take a closer look at the history of Pointillism, the artists who pioneered it, and how you can try it yourself.
A Brief Gallop through Pointillism History
Pointillism emerged in the late 19th century as a reaction to Impressionism. Developed by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, Pointillism broke away from the traditional, subjective way artists might respond to a subject with brushstrokes, and instead channeled a more scientific approach, using countless dots of pure colour. Because, as they discovered, by placing different colours close together, the eye blends them naturally, and so creates depth and luminosity.
One of the most famous examples of Pointillism is “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” (1884) by Seurat, an enormous composition built entirely from tiny dots. This technique, known as optical mixing, allowed artists to achieve a vibrant effect without the need for traditional blending. Seurat began with a layer of small, horizontal brushstrokes in complementary colours, before adding a series of dots that combined into solid and luminous forms when seen from a distance.
A key figure in developing the technique was Paul Signac, and he often used a more relaxed and expressive application of dots. In "Portrait of Félix Fénéon” (1890) Signac incorporated concepts from Charles Henry (author of Introduction à une esthétique scientifique in 1885) about scientific aesthetics - the rhythms of colours and lines, and elements like sensation, sound, motion, light and music. What do you see in this piece? For me, the dots seem to fizz on the canvas and create feelings of movement and change.
Combining Pointillism with a freer, more experimental use of colour, Henri-Edmond Cross created "The Evening Air" (1893), choosing late afternoon as his inspiration, when the heat and light were subsiding. The artwork expresses the soft colours of the setting sun and the harmonious balance of horizontal and vertical lines.
Although Cross stayed true to the dotted Neo-impressionist technique, he adapted it to the large size of his composition. He used large rectangular brushstrokes which enhanced the decorative effect of the painting, giving it a mosaic effect.
Camille Pissarro integrated elements of Pointillism into his Impressionist works. In "Apple Harvest” (1888) points of red, blue, green, pink, lavender, orange, and yellow create a stylised and balanced scene of apple picking in the French countryside. The figures labour under the shadow of a large tree whose edges create a decorative pattern in the foreground. Small dabs of pure, vibrant colour create the dazzling effect of bright afternoon sunshine. When I look at this piece, the dotted scene gives me a feeling of hazy warm air, and time passing slowly.
Pointillism points the way...
Pointillism continues to inspire artists today, with many adapting its techniques in fresh and exciting ways. Bridget Riley, known for her Op Art, studied Seurat’s approach to colour and light, and incorporated pointillist influences into her early works, like Nataraja (1993). Riley described her use of different tones as a change of ‘tempo’, pitching shades of colour ‘against the structure of the formal movement’.
In Untitled #1A (2011), Howardena Pindell used punched paper dots and layered textures to create intricate compositions, which echo the meticulous nature of Pointillism. What do you think - how does your eye take in this cluster of dots? What do you see in this piece?
Mickalene Thomas, in pieces like Racquel Reclining Wearing Purple Jumpsuit (2014), integrates dotted patterns by studding rhinestones into her portraits, giving them a shimmering, almost pointillist effect. These signature rhinestones allude to her earlier interest in pointillism’s division of space, while lending a glamour embodied by the fabulous sitters.
In 2017, Sophie Artinian created "Eternity", where pointillism meets abstractionism. In this textured, dot-based composition, it feels to me as if we are stepping directly inside the rich colours as they mingle. We are not far enough away for our eyes to fully blend the dots together, but instead we are given a place to sit amongst them as the fizz in and out of focus.
Taking inspiration from Pointillism - Exploring Pointillism Techniques
Interested in trying Pointillism yourself? You don’t need any fancy materials — just a willingness to experiment! Here are a few ways to get started:
Stippling with Pens and Markers
Use fine-tip pens or markers, create different tones by varying the density of dots. This is a great technique for shading in ink drawings! Just grab your pen, and make lots of dots - some close together, some far apart, some big and some small.
Painting with Dots
Try using acrylic or watercolour paints and apply colour in small, deliberate dabs. Try dotting different colours closely together to see how they visually mix. Then try overlapping colours. It doesn't have to be just dots of paint either - experiment with dashes too!
You can use brushes for this, or you can try sticks. Check out my recent YouTube video where I painted a fox using sticks!
Digital Pointillism
Many digital art programmes allow for stippling and dot-based painting effects. Experiment with different brush settings to replicate the texture of traditional Pointillism. The benefits of a digital canvas is that you can use layers - so try playing with creating dots on a few different layers, and then changing the opacity of each layer to let the dots mingle even more.
Pointillism may require patience, but the results are often mesmerising. Whether you’re creating a full painting or just adding stippling to your sketches, this technique encourages mindfulness and precision. Give it a go, and see how a collection of tiny dots can transform into something remarkable!
🦊 This is how I got on when I had a go at painting a fox with sticks - bring on the dots! 👇
Thanks for reading,
Keep making happy,
Gem 💛
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