Pointillism : Introduction, Characteristics, Inventors

In my previous post I shared some works created by me using Stippling technique. And also shared some information regarding Stippling (dot work) technique. Some people also call this technique as Pointillism. But I told you that stippling is distinct from pointillism. Let us know how it is distinct from pointillism. For that we have to learn what pointillism is.

• What is Pointillism?

In fine art the term "pointillism" (from the French word "point" meaning "dot") describes a technique of Neo-Impressionism painting, in which hundreds of small dots or dashes of pure color are applied to the canvas, or other ground in order to create maximum luminosity. That is, instead of mixing color pigments on a palette and then applying the mixture into the painting, the pointillist applies small dots of pure unmixed color directly onto the picture and relies on the eye of the viewer to mix the color optically.

Pointillism also called Divisionism and Chromoluminarism, in painting, the practice of applying small strokes or dots of colors to a surface so that from a distance they visually blend together. 

• What are the characteristics of Pointillism?

Unlike some art movements, Pointillism has nothing to do with the subject matter of the painting. It is a specific way of applying the paint to the canvas. In Pointillism the painting is made up entirely of small dots of pure color. Pointillism used the science of optics to create color from many small dots placed so close to each other that they would blur into am image to the eye. This is the same way computer screens work today. The pixels in the computer screen are just like the dots in a Pointillism painting. 

Pointillism is often considered part of the Post-Impressionist movement. While Impressionists used small dabs of paint as part of their technique, Pointillism took this to the next level using only small dots of pure color to compose an entire painting.

• When was the Pointillism movement?

Pointillism reached its peak in the 1880s and 1890s after the Impressionist movement. Many of the concepts and ideas, however, continued to be used by artists in the future.

• Who invented Pointillism?

The founder of Pointillism was George Seurat (1859-1891), a model student at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. A traditioned, and conventional classical painter, he rejected Impressionism, a style of painting and color based on the subjective responses of the individual artist, in favour of a more scientific method which he developed around 1884 and called Chromoluminarism. Based on the scientific color theory of the French Chemist Michel Eugene Chevreal (law of Simultaneous Color Contrast, 1839) and the American Physicist Ogden Rood (Modern Chromatics, 1879), the method was used to a degree by the Impressionist painters, but only on an ad hoc basis, and it was not developed systematically until Seurat. Seurat's main disciple was the former Impressionist Paul Signac (1863-1935). A coastal Landscape artist, Signac was strongly attracted by the scientific method behind Pointillism and Divisionism and after Seurat's death in 1891,he became the leading exponent of the Neo-Impressionist movement. In addition to oil paintings and watercolor, he also produced a number of Lithographs, etchings and pen-and-ink sketches composed of tiny, laboriously laid out dots. A strong supporter of younger artists within the Post-Impressionism movement, Signac was reportedly the first person to buy a painting from Henri Matisse.

• How does Pointillism relate to Divisionism and Neo-Impressionism?

Strictly speaking Pointillism refers only to the type of work made on the canvas (the dot) or might just as easily call it "dottism". The actual theory of mixing paint-pigments optically rather than on a palette, is known as Divisionism (or Chromoluminarism). To confuse things further, Pointillism was the signature style of the French painting style known as Neo-Impressionism. To put it another way, Neo-Impressionist painters absorbed the color theories of Divisionism and employed Pointillist brushwork, in order to create the most luminous colors.

Here is one work which I have tried using Pointillism style ~

Watercolor on Paper

(Note : I have gathered this information about Pointillism from different sources.) 

Stippling Art, Dot Work | Learning the technique | Stippled Flowers

Lately, I got attracted to some artworks created by the artists using the dot drawing technique called Stippling. Stippling is an ink drawing technique where you apply tone and texture in small dots. In another words, stippling is a drawing technique in which areas of light and shadow are created using nothing but dots. In a drawing or painting the dots are made of pigment of a single color applied with a pen or brush.

The basic idea is simple : For darker areas you apply a greater number of dots and keep them close together. Then for progressively lighter areas use fewer dots and space them farther apart.
Some people also call this technique as pointillism. But stippling is distinct from pointillism, which uses dots of different colors to stimulate blended colors.

Stippling demands patience and precision, and each piece takes hours to complete.



Here are few flower works which I drew using this technique. You can see by zooming the work that it has been drawn with millions of small dots of pen.

"Anemone"
Pen on Paper
8.5inch × 10.5inch

"Peony"
Pen on Paper
8.5inch × 10.5inch

"Dahlias"
Pen on Paper
8.5inch × 10.5inch

"Orchids"
Pen on Paper
8.5inch × 10.5inch

The process definitely takes hours and demands patience but worth it. I love the texture created by this technique. It looks astonishingly beautiful. I would love to do more works by using this technique and improve my skills.

Thank you for stopping by. Let me know if you like my work. Keep supporting. Keep making art. :) 

Lord Ganesha

Lord Ganesh is one of the best known and loved deities in the Hindu pantheon of gods, and indeed is the most recognized outside of India.

Ganesh ( also spelled Ganesa or Ganesha ) is the Lord of Good Fortune who provides prosperity, fortune and success. He is the first deity to be worshiped as he can remove all obstacles of both material and spiritual kinds.

He is the Lord of Beginnings and is invoked before the undertaking of any task. He is the patron of arts, crafts and sculptures. He is also considered as Lord of astrology, action and god of harvest 

( particularly for sugarcane growers ). Devotees believe that if Ganesh is worshiped, he grants success, prosperity and protection against adversity. In a lesser known role Ganesh is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride.

Acrylics on paper
22inch × 15inch

As per Hindu Mythology, he is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is also worshiped as the God of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. Ganesh is one of the five major Hindu deities ( The Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the Chief Goddess - Maa Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the Panchayatana Puja.

Acrylics on canvas
15inch × 20inch

The Meaning of Ganesh ~

Gan means group. The Universe is a group of atoms and different energies. This Universe would be in chaos if there was no supreme law governing these diverse groups of entities. The Lord of all these groups of atoms and energies is Ganesh. He is the Supreme consciousness that pervades all and brings order in the Universe.

Lord Ganesh is ~~

• Achintya ~ beyond thought
• Avyakta ~ beyond expression 
• Ananta ~ eternal

Acrylics on canvas
15inch × 20inch

Although Ganesh has 108 names but popular names are ~

• Ganpati ~ Lord of Shiva ganas
• Vinayaka ~ the eternal leader 
• Vighneshwara ~ removal of all obstacles 
• Vighnaharta ~ the remover of hurdles 
• Sumukha ~ the Lord with a beautiful face
• Balchandra ~ the wearer of moon on his forehead 
• Lambodara ~ the one with a big stomach
• Gajanana ~ the Elephant headed God 
• Ek Danta ~ the Lord with one tusk 
• Lambkarna ~ long Eared God
• Kapila ~ the one with tawny colored skin

 and many more.


There are lot of symbolism involved with Ganesh idols. There are total 32 forms of Ganesha. Importance is given to the posture in Ganesh idols ( sitting, standing, dancing or relaxing ) and also to the direction of Ganesh trunk. Normally Ganesh is shown with 2, 6, 8, 10 and 16 arms. On rare occasion, he is shown with 5 heads. In his hands, he is shown with different articles depending upon the role he is playing. During Ganesh chaturthi festival, Ganesh statues are made with different themes which are creative as well as carry message for devotees.


He is worshiped and adored in all His forms and is one of the cutest Hindu Gods too - and that's why He is children's favorite too.



There are many mantras, stotras and aartis specifically written in the Vedas and Puranas to please and worship the great Lord. The most important of them all is -

“Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha 
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa”

Acrylics Painting ~ Love of Horizon

"Love of Horizon"
Acrylics on canvas
33 "×27"

This is Acrylics painting on canvas. It's an abstract. I created it to show the true, unconditional love which is shown by the nature itself.

Pure unconditional love is the most powerful vibration, force, energy, in the entire universe, in all spheres of life and reality.

Love knows no limits, no boundaries, and no limitations. It is unconditional, limitless, and always flowing.

I have shown love of the sky and the earth. It's like a poem which I have tried to tell with the help of this painting. They are far away from each other still they are so close. They meet each other at horizon. There love is true and unconditional. Sky shows his love to her by showering morning sunshine and rain drops. Earth shows how happy she is by her beautiful blee. Birds exchange their love messages. Their love is unique and eternal.

Acrylics Painting ~ Love In Paradise

"Love In Paradise "
Acrylics on paper
22" ×28"

In this painting I have shown the beauty of love, the wonderful place the two persons create when they are in love. When they are in love, for them the world becomes a paradise, and they know no limits, no boundaries, and no limitations. There love is Unconditional, limitless, and always flowing. The entire world can certainly be won over by real love. 

Now the question is.. What is love? 

Simply stated, Love is the feeling that you feel for another, which comes from within. 

It is a natural wonderful feeling and so powerful that it can cause us pain. 

There are many kinds of love and each depends on what we feel for another. There could be love that you may have for your parents, children, pets, friends, relatives, or just about anyone, other than the love between two people. 

When you see love between two people, something is moving, changing, and flowing. They live in an aura and their vibration reach one another even if they are not together. In such kind of love sometimes there is no need for words as there is a deep understanding prevalent between two people. Instead, there is an exchange between their souls or a soul-to-soul connection. 

"Love is like the sunrise ; hope appeared at the same time on two faces and in two souls connected by the same wonders and tears of life. " ~ Mariana Fulger

Ture love listens ; it always waits, and is patient, kind, caring, joyous, and free! 

What are your thoughts about love? Have you ever been in love? 

Acrylics Painting ~ GAIA (Mother Goddess)

"GAIA  (Mother Goddess)
Acrylics on paper
22"×28"

This artwork of mine is again an abstract. As I said before, I get inspiration from the nature and the things around me. You will always find a touch of nature in my artworks. I got inspiration from nature only to do this artwork Gaia (Mother Goddess).


In Greek mythology, Gaia was the personification of Earth and one of the Greek primordial deities. Gaia was the great Mother of all : the primal Greek Mother Goddess ; creator and giver of birth to the Earth and all the Universe ; the heavenly gods, the Titans and the Giants were born to her. The gods reigning over their classical pantheon were born from her union with Uranus (the sky), while the sea-gods were born from her union with Pontus (the sea). Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was Terra. Oaths sworn in the name of Gaia, in ancient Greece, were considered the most binding of all. (Source : Wikipedia)

From here I got the perfect title for my artwork.


I have done this artwork to show that the Earth is our mother. She is the creator and giver of birth. We should take care of her. I used acrylics on paper, because I think acrylics give shine to the work. I have made background in the way that it would look like Universe and used blue and green shades for this purpose. So that the viewers get a vision of whole universe in my painting and also focused on the Mother Earth. That's why I put the shadow like image of the Mother Earth at the center holding a tree. My main purpose to do this artwork was to tell that Mother Earth is our creator, she nurtures us. If we would not take care of her then she could also destroy us. Save the Mother Earth if you want to live.

Acrylics Painting ~ The Luminous Night

"The Luminous Night"
Acrylics on paper
22inch × 28inch

This is one of my favorite artworks. As I love night sky very much so I thought to fill the blank paper with that beauty. This was my first try to draw something like that but amazingly it came out beautifully. I love the colors of the night sky and its luminosity. Though, we cannot see anything in the night but I think the most amazing and beautiful colors can be seen in the night. The glittering stars, amazing colors of aurora. I use to stare at the sky in the night. It looks so beautiful with its glittering stars, it gives peace to my soul. I hear the unsung songs in the silent nights. I see the beauty of God's creations in that luminous night. So, I tried to give the same feeling to the viewers also through my artwork. No matter what viewers interpret but I would be happy if they feel the same; if they see the beauty of it; if they hear those unsung songs. I would be happy to give the moment of peace to viewers while watching my this artwork. As an artist, I feel delighted and powerful. Because an artist has the power to arouse the feelings, emotions, thoughts of the viewers by his/her artwork.

What are your thoughts on this artwork? Did you felt the same? Do you also like luminous nights? 

Acrylics Painting ~ Beautiful Sunset

"Beautiful Sunset "
Acrylics on paper
22"×28"

Sunsets are so alluring, mesmerising, one can not help but fall in love with them. I love the yellow and orange hues and silhouettes created in the aesthetic sunsets. I couldn't resist to paint this beautiful view. 

Wanted to share one poem which exactly conveys my feelings about this painting, written by D. M. 

Here is the poetry. 

SILHOUETTES IN SUNSETS
 (Painting a picture)

© D. M. 

The sun sets across the horizon

The shadow grew

Mesmerised by the colors

The yellow and orange hues

The angler by the lake

Silhouetted and concealed by his background

The water glimmers against the light

Like a new jewel found

An eagle swoops down

Trying to catch its meal for the day

Oblivious to the darkening sky

Searching for its prey 

As I stared out my window

I stuck in it's beauty

Took up my paintbrush

And started to paint the wonderful scenery

The used to be empty wall

Is now filled

With my silhouette and sunset picture

Is just for your viewing pleasure. 

Acrylics Painting ~ Moonlight Night

"Moonlight Night"
Acrylics on Paper
22inch × 28inch

This artwork of mine is not fully abstraction. I have used acrylics on paper. The nature always attracted me towards it. I always get inspiration from it.

A moonlight night is one of the beautiful phenomena of nature. The moon may be crescent or full, but it is beautiful in either form. It looks beautiful in blue and dark sky. You all must have witnessed this beautiful view. In the dark sky, here and there are few patches of white clouds float slowly. It seems like the moon is playing hide-and-seek with these clouds. I enjoy this view. You all must have enjoyed it. It is very pleasant to look at the sky at the time and to hear the soft and musical sounds of crickets and night-birds.

The earth seems to be washed with moonlight. It seems to be an art of light and shade.

"The moon was up painting the world silver, making things look just a little alive." - N.D Wilson

When the moon showers its light upon earth it makes me feel like it is showering and expressing his love to earth.

There is one poem "Moonlight Night Love" which I have read somewhere, and want to share, the writer is unknown.

"As Moon comes

To earth every night

To court her affection

In the presence

Of a million stars

Yet oblivious of their stare

Only focused on his love

Scaling her in circles.

Never tiring, ever following

In orbital woos...

So will I circle

You my love

Till you say yes..!!

A moonlight is nature's sweetest offer to mankind. It gives an essence of love to mankind. As there is a saying that moonlight cannot get apart from moon likewise true lovers cannot get apart. It is rightly said by Debasish Mridha that -

"The moon is the reflection of your heart and moonlight is the twinkle of your love."

When I see in the dark sky it seems like moon is smiling upon us and is vanishing all the darkness of the earth and the darkness which is inside us, the darkness of sorrows and pain.

"Only the moon's smile can cure the unseen scars of darkness." - Munia Khan

"Moon is the light from a lantern in heaven." - Munia Khan

I just love the beauty of moonlight night. It gives peace and sense of calmness to my heart. Moonlight has a lasting effect on the human minds.

"The true joy of a moonlit night is something we no longer understand. Only the men of old, when there were no lights, could understand the true joy of a moonlit night." -Yasunari Kawabata

Colored Pencils Artwork, Process ~ Flower

I am fond of flowers..I draw them often. Their colors, shapes, shades, everything make me attracted towards them.

My recent work ~

This artwork entirely is done with color pencils. I use steadtler color pencils which I think are difficult to blend, but I managed to use them according to my desire. And I am happy with the results.

Flower
Color pencils on paper
11.7" ×16.5"

Stages of the artwork ~

©Vandana Sharma

Hope you guys like my work..Please do comment..:)