LESSON 5: Dot to Dot
Dot art is a simple concept - you use dots to create a piece of artwork! This technique does not require any amazing painting skills; you just need a little imagination! It’s a great skill to teach children. In this lesson we will be using our Ball Stylus Pens, also known as dotting tools, to complete 3 different projects.
PROJECT 1: Empowerment Pebbles with Daisies
This project is a set of 10 painted pebbles with flowers and words of encouragement and empowerment. They are great for handing out to groups of children and adults alike! Some of my customers keep a set on hand and grab a different rock each morning to carry around throughout the day.
Watch the video above and/or follow the steps below:
Prep 10 pebble-sized rocks (1.5 - 2 inches) with a black background color (TIP: black acrylic paint normally does not require a base coat beneath, so you only need the one coat of black!). Allow the rocks to dry.
Gather different colors of paint for the flowers. I use yellow, orange, red, sky blue, white, and apple green.
Using a ball stylus pen with a medium tip, dip the end in yellow paint and tap a dot onto a rock (in the left-hand corner). This is the center of your daisy. You want to leave room for the petals AND a word or two on the rest of the rock. Continue adding one dot (flower center) onto each rock.
Using the same ball stylus tip, start adding petals to your flowers. To do this, dip the tip into the paint and dot it onto the rock, slightly above the flower center. Drag the tip down towards the central dot to form a teardrop shape. These are the flower petals. (Another option is to simply dot circles for the petals).
Continue adding flower petals to your rocks, changing up the colors. My set has 2 yellow flowers, 2 blue, 2 red, 2 orange, and 2 white.
Now pick a ball stylus pen that has a smaller tip. You will use the green paint to add a stem and leaves to each flower. Dip the tip into the paint and drag the stem of the flower, from bottom to top. This makes the stem larger and the bottom and tapers off at the top. You may need to dip your pen a time or two to have enough paint to make the whole stem.
Then simply dot a leaf on each side of the stem. Continue until all your flowers have stems and leaves.
Now for the final touch on the flowers: use the tiniest ball tip you have to add a circle of tiny dots around the center of your flowers. Place the dots slightly above the central dot, filling in the space between the center and petals of the flowers. This gives your flowers an extra special touch.
Finally, use a white acrylic paint pen to write words of encouragement on your stones! You can use my list of words or come up with your own. Here is my list: laugh, stay calm, be you, believe, dance, sing, smile, play, stay strong, shine.
Now you are ready to seal your rocks. Then… give them to others and see their faces light up!
PROJECT 2: Words of Wisdom Pocket Rocks
In this project, we will paint a set of 10 pocket rocks with daisies and “words of wisdom.”
Watch the video above and/or follow the steps below:
Prep 10 small rocks with a base coat and a background color of your choice. I used bright royal blue as the background, but I have made this set with a lighter sky blue as well. Allow the background to dry completely.
Gather orange, white, and apple green paint, a ball stylus pen with a medium and small tip, and a white (or black) acrylic paint pen.
Begin by dotting the orange centers of the flowers. There are 2 or three daisies on each rock, depending on the size. You want the flowers to be on one side to leave space for the words later. Dip the medium ball stylus end into the orange paint and dot 3 circles onto each rock.
Now it’s time to add the white petals. Dip the medium tip into the white paint, and place dots around the center of each flower to form petals. It’s okay to leave space between the center and the petals, because you will be adding tiny dots in that area later. Continue adding petals around the orange centers of each rock.
To add leaves, dip the small end of the ball stylus into the green paint. Place a dot near a flower, then drag to form a teardrop shape. Continue to add leaves around each flower on all the rocks. Change up the location of the leaves for a more natural look.
Now it’s time to add a finishing touch to the flowers. Using the small ball tip, add a circle of tiny dots around the center of each flower. Place the dots slightly above the central dot, filling in the space between the center and petals of the flower.
Finally, use a white acrylic paint pen (or a black pen if you chose a lighter background) to write words of wisdom on your stones! You can use my list of words or come up with your own. Here is my list: hope, joy, love, kindness, forgiveness, strength, peace, courage, compassion, and faith.
Now you are ready to seal your rocks.
PROJECT 3: Tiny Tree in Autumn Painted Rock
This last project employs Dot Art to create a “Tiny Tree in Autumn.” This is simple enough for children to finish, yet the end product is beautiful!
Watch the video above and/or follow the steps below:
Prep a small rock (sized 2-3 inches) with two coats of white background. Allow to dry completely.
Gather a green paint pen, black paint pen, and 3 colors of paint: yellow, orange, and red. You will also need a ball stylus pen with a medium and small tip.
First, use the green paint pen draw a curved line of grass that will serve as the “ground.”
Next, using the black paint pen, draw a tree trunk and branches of a tree. (If you are not comfortable with this step, practice on a piece of paper first.) Fill in the trunk of the tree using the black pen.
Using both sizes of ball tips, dot yellow, red, and orange circles within the branches of the tree. Use both ball tip sized to add variety to the sizes of your “fall leaves.” Continue adding dots until the branches of the tree are nearly covered.
Lastly, scatter some dots along the grass line at the base of the tree to look like piles of fall leaves.
Congratulations! You have completed another work of Dot Art!
Now you are ready to seal your rock.