STIPPLING TECHNIQUE
In this article, you will learn how to focus or blur elements in the background of your artwork in order to control their depth and differentiate them from foreground objects.
The advantage of this method is that you can paint the background of your artwork in a detailed and realistic manner, and those details will not make the object blend into the foreground.
You can use this technique to paint elements such as the texture of sand, the treetops in the distance, or even details like facial hair, etc.
To do this, we will use old and worn brushes and the “Stippling Technique”.
So…
… if you have brushes that are getting old or worn out, DON’T THROW THEM AWAY, you can bring them back to life to create various special effects in many types of artwork.
I’m sure you’re wondering… WHAT IS STIPPLING? Stippling involves making small taps or dots with the tip of the brush, creating a texture of dots.
Let’s see an example:
To create the lights and shadows in the sand of this landscape and achieve the correct texture, I’m going to use the stippling technique.
It’s just a matter of taking a little paint and gently tapping with the tip of the brush in the areas that correspond to the lights and shadows.
Try not to press the brush too hard against the canvas; the tip should just touch it to create a smooth stippling effect.
This way, we achieve the texture of sand.
What would happen if we painted the lights and shadows without using this technique?
If we painted with a normal brushstroke, we would be removing the inherent texture of the sand, and it wouldn’t look like sand anymore but rather a smooth ground with dirt.
Let me give you another example…
Next, we’re going to use the same brush to create depth between the different layers of trees.
How do we achieve this?
In this partially painted autumn landscape, we have different layers of trees and leaves. Some are farther away, and others are closer.
While we’re applying regular brushstrokes to the trees and leaves, we’ll notice that there is no depth; everything looks as if it’s on the same plane with the same level of detail.
What you need to do is BLEND the farther leaves using stippling.
Take the old brush (or whichever one you have) and start.
It’s essential that the brush is clean and dry.
Slowly begin stippling so that all those brushstrokes blend and integrate with the surface of the tree.
What we achieve is that the leaves lose detail and blend with the tree, thus contributing to the depth of the artwork.
If we don’t use this technique, the tree will appear far away, but the leaves will appear close because they will be well-defined.
And this would create an inconsistency in the depth.
You may also be interested in: HOW TO MAKE AN EASY AND DYNAMIC SKETCH
[ GIFT ]
NEW TECHNIQUE: How to Paint Hyper-Realistic Lights and Shadows in 3 Simple Steps
If you want everyone to be amazed and ask you how you achieve such realistic lights and shadows, then you need to learn this technique.
Would you like to receive this free video? Click the button below.
In this VIDEO, you will learn:
The KEY element to correctly position lights and shadows so that each object shows depth and feels real.
How to calculate the color mixture for a natural look when applied to the canvas (even for faces and different skin tones).
The MAJOR mistake that many beginner painters make when mixing colors, making them appear inexperienced.
The third color in the shadow mixture that almost no one uses and how to calculate it (it is essential for cast shadows).
And much more.
