The basics of stripple drawing 101

Stipple Drawing Basics By: Cynthia Padilla Stipple drawing is an artistic technique where the artist places an intricate series of small dots together to achieve continuous tone in a drawing. The dark or light shading on the subject being rendered will be determined by how dark or light the artist applies the dots. Practice on simple geometric shapes before attempting a self portrait or that large oak tree across the meadow. The degree of perceived solidity of the subject being portrayed is defined by how far or how close the dots are arranged. To create dark tones and deep shadows, follow the techniques below. Make larger dots Create darker dots Draw dots close together The denser, tighter the spacing of the dots, the darker the tones will appear. Conversely, to simulate light areas on a subject, make the dots finer: Use a soft touch when making dots Place the dots farther apart from one another Pencil Stipple Drawing When using a pencil, tap and twist. Tap the pencil straight down on the paper and twist the pencil tip onto the paper. This will assure a dark and evenly rounded stipple mark. Using the softest, darkest pencil from the end B range of pencil leads will help. Pen Stipple Drawing Pens come in a wide range of nibs (or pen tip size) and contain any mix of ink product, so shop around and find what feels most comfortable. When using a pen, there is no need to employ the tap and twist technique. The mere touch of the pen's nib to the surface of the paper will produce a stipple mark. Concentrate on a straight landing of the pen tip to the paper in an effort to avoid tails on the end of your stipple dot. Paper Stipple on white, hot-pressed (smooth) surfaced paper for the best results. A fibrous paper will tend to blur the ink and a cold pressed (rough) paper will slow down your hypnotic mark-making staccato. The combination of black ink against a white ground will produce a dramatic clarity not achieved with other media. This resulting high contrast will produce splendidly in publication, even on low budget projects using inexpensive papers on an ancient home printer running low on toner. Color For something completely different, a sheer transparent layer of watercolor paint over the high contrast black/white stippled page can soften the look to breathtaking highs. Although modern technology has made it no longer necessary to spend hours dotting pen to paper, the stipple drawing technique is not likely to go away. It remains an ideal technique for work done under the microscope. Plant sections, macro-sized segments such as flower parts and seeds and the varied textures and veining found on the top and back of leaves can be clearly delineated by the look of stipple. The tradition remains appealing by today's generation of botanical artists, paleontological illustrators and natural science illustrators for its ability to show details crisply and simply.

Alcohol Ink Resist

You will need: Glossy cardstock Alcohol Inks Ink tool applicator and felt pads Covered worksurface Stamps Clear embossing powder Embossing Ink Heat Gun An iron - yes really! First you need to stamp your image using embossing ink onto glossy card.Then clear emboss the image using embossing powder and your heat gun: Then ink up your applicator with some alcohol ink and rub over the surface of the image: When the image is fully covered put your iron on to HOT and place a piece of clean paper over your embossed image. Iron over the image, through the clean paper. This melts and removes the embossing powder, you end up with a lovely clear, white image. Alcohol Ink Resist

You will need: Glossy cardstock Alcohol Inks Ink tool applicator and felt pads Covered worksurface Stamps Clear embossing powder Embossing Ink Heat Gun An iron - yes really! First you need to stamp your image using embossing ink onto glossy card.Then clear emboss the image using embossing powder and your heat gun: Then ink up your applicator with some alcohol ink and rub over the surface of the image: When the image is fully covered put your iron on to HOT and place a piece of clean paper over your embossed image. Iron over the image, through the clean paper. This melts and removes the embossing powder, you end up with a lovely clear, white image:

Cracked Glass Technique

The cracked glass technique is a combination of heat embossing and distressing. Start with a stamped image Cover the entire surface with Versamark direct to paper. Heat emboss the image with clear embossing powder. Let the embossed image cool/dry completely. Repeat the embossing process (Versamark, clear powder, heat, let cool completely) about four times. To get the cracked glass look, bend the embossed image until the embossing cracks.

punky girl

altered envelope

Stazon Ink, Water~colors, Rubber stamps. Acrylic Paint.

Jads Rocks

Stampers Sampler

Mail Art We often receive artwork at Stampington & Company that packs an extra creative punch, in the form of embellished and artistic packaging. These packages and envelopes — artwork in and of themselves — are always put aside and treasured and, when we are able to do so, they are published in our magazines. For this challenge, we’d love to see the many ways in which you would dress up a plain envelope or box. Whether you add colorful ink, perfectly placed stamping, or even patterned papers and other embellishments, we want to see your best mail art for possible inclusion in our Autumn 2013 issue. Absolute Deadline -- May 15, 2013

Transfer an image using MODGE PODGE

How to Use Mod Podge to Transfer Images Materials: ~Sandpaper, low grit ~Rag ~Paper plate Instructions: 1 Sand the surface onto which you'll apply the photo to create a smooth surface that will help the Mod Podge stick evenly. Use low-grit sandpaper and wipe away any dust with a rag. 2 Pour a dollar coin-size amount of Mod Podge onto a paper plate. Coat the sanded surface with a thin layer of Paper Mod Podge. Use a paint brush. 4 Coat the back of the photo you're transferring with a thin layer of the Mod Podge. Press it to the prepared craft surface before the Mod Podge has a chance to dry. 5 Cover the entire surface of the craft, including the photo, with another layer of Paper Mod Podge. Let it dry for about two hours before handling it.

POE