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Overview:

There are so many unique techniques you can explore with acrylic paint-from acrylic blending and dry brush techniques to acrylic paint pouring and so much more! In this guide, we will be focusing on acrylic dot painting techniques and the different surfaces you can use to create your dotty masterpieces. Dot painting has been a commonly used technique in Aboriginal art ever since 1971, and was even used to disguise the sacred meanings behind the stories in their paintings. Since then, dot painting has adapted to include more contemporary techniques, such as 3D effects, using acrylic mediums, diverse colours and more! Read on to get inspired for your next dot painting.

Before you start

Before you get stuck into these acrylic dot painting techniques, you will need some essential supplies. Most of these dot painting tools you will have at home but if you don't, you can always grab some online or in-store from Art to Art.

Acrylic dot painting surfaces

Dot painting can be completed on a wide range of surfaces. Some of the most popular dot painting surfaces include:

When you're working with unique surfaces, just make sure to cover your artwork with a coat of varnish afterwards to avoid any fading or yellowing.

7 acrylic dot painting for beginners

1. Dip and dot

This is the most commonly used dot painting technique. The dip and dot technique is also super easy and can be completed by artists of all levels! Just make sure not to overload your dotting tool with the paint as your dots can become uneven.

How to do it:

Before you start, you want to choose the colours for your artwork.

Grab your dotting tool, pencil eraser, or paint brush end, and dip it into your chosen colour.

Once you have a medium amount of paint on your dotting tool, dot it onto your surface.

Continue re-dipping it into the paint and dotting it to create your desired pattern.

2. Dot-walking

( Source)

The dot-walking technique is super simple and is a great way to add some extra detail to your dot paintings! You can let your imagination run wild and create a range of fun designs with this acrylic dot painting technique. This method is also best achieved using a dotting tool, so make sure you have one on hand.

How to do it:

Start by using a pencil eraser, a paint brush, or a dotting tool in your preferred colour of paint and create a large dot in the centre of your surface.

Load up your dot painting tool with some paint (in any colour) and continue dotting away from the centre dot, without dipping your tool back in the paint.

As you work your way to the outside of the surface your dots will get smaller and smaller, creating the dot-walking effect.

Continue until you have covered the outside of the centre circle.

3. Dot painting with a stencil

( Source)

Stencils are an easy way to elevate your design, especially if you are a beginner to dot painting. This means you won't need to guess where to put your dots and your designs can be perfectly aligned! Stencils can also be applied to a range of surfaces including canvas, rocks, ceramics, and more.

How to do it:

Choose a stencil design.

Once you have your stencil, lay it on your chosen surface and use an art pencil to draw the outline in your stencil. We recommend using a white pencil as it can be easily disguised with paint.

Choose the colours you want to work with and use your dotting tool to fill in the design.

Once completed, let your design dry completely.

If you have any leftover marks from the pencil, simply grab a cotton bud, spray it with water, and carefully rub the marks away.

4. Mandala dotting technique

The Mandala dotting technique is one of the most popular designs used in dot painting art. Although these designs may seem intricate and difficult, with a few handy tips you can create designs like this in no time! You can get as creative as you like, testing out a range of different mandala designs.

How to do it:

Start by dipping your dot painting tool into your paint and place a large dot in the centre.

Using a small dotting tool, dip it into another colour and create evenly spaced smaller dots around the centre circle.

Using a different colour on your tool, create larger dots in between the spaces where your smaller dots are placed.

Continue making the dots larger as you progress and make sure to add them in the spaces between the previous dots.

Once you are happy with the amount of larger dots, you can begin adding smaller dots around some of your circles, like the dot walking technique.

You can also add some extra pzazz with some swooshes and comma-like dots. You can create these by placing down a dot of paint and dragging it.

5. Painting a shape with dotting tools

( Source)

Dot painting doesn't have to be limited to only dots, you can create a range of unique shapes as well! There are various shapes you can create, including hearts, stars, moons, butterflies, and more.

How to do it:

Start by tracing the outline of your shape using an art pencil, a marker, or some paint on a fine paintbrush.

Grab your dipping tool and dip it into your preferred colour of paint. And, apply your dots around the outline of your shape. Be careful not to go inside the lines of the shape.

Using a smaller dotting tool, you can blend the inside dots together to avoid having any spaces from showing.

If you make a mistake, simply clean it up with a damp cotton tip.

To complete your design add different-sized dots around your shape. You can get as creative as you wish during this stage!

6. Stacked dot technique

( Source)

If you're looking to create a super unique and eye-catching dot painting, you can't go past this stacked dot technique! This is also great for use in mandala designs and will instantly take your artworks from a beginner level to professional.

How to do it:

Start by choosing the colours you want to work with. You can stick to a small colour palette or use a wide range of colours, depending on your style.

Paint your surface with a base coat.

Using white paint, dip your tool into the paint and begin by creating various large and medium-sized dots all over your surface.

Try to make sure your dots don't touch and if you make a mistake, wait for it to dry and add a dot in the colour of your base coat over the top.

Let your white dots dry completely.

Once dried, add your second colour inside your white dots and let this dry again.

If you want to add more colours inside your dots, just wait for the paint to dry before adding more.

7. Dot painting with paint pens

If you're not comfortable using a dotting tool or you would prefer to try out a different dotting technique, paint pens are an easy and effective alternative. The paint pen dotting technique is popularly used on surfaces like rocks, ceramics, and glasses as they're quick drying.

How to do it:

Purchase acrylic paint pens in your chosen colours.

Draw on your base coat using the paint pens.

Once your base coat is dry, start drawing your design onto your surface. You can get creative and add different-sized dots onto your artwork.

If you're working on rock or glass, keep in mind that you may need to use a few coats of the paint pen to make your colours stand out.

Remember to coat your final design with acrylic varnish and you're done!

So there you have it, 7 acrylic dot painting techniques, plus some different surfaces to experiment with. Don't forget to get all your art supplies from Art to Art either online or in-store. When you shop online, you can enjoy free shipping for orders over $100 and same-day delivery Australia-wide before 11am.

More inspo & helpful resources

Acrylic Painting Ideas

Acrylic Painting Techniques

Abstract acrylic painting ideas

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Looking to master some acrylic dot painting techniques? This is the guide for you! Get inspired by our 7 different dot painting tips for beginners. Read on.

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Getting Started With Dot Painting

I have always been excited about using paper to create art. In the past, my primary modalities have been scrapbooks, cards, coloring books, and journal art-but then I came across a video about dot mandalas and got really excited. I began to think about all of the unique artworks I could create.

Simply put, dot painting is the art of making dots in different sizes in a pattern. You can practice this technique on paper, canvas, rocks, wood, and glassware. Really, the possibilities are endless.

This craft is easy on the budget, too. Many of the items that you will need you probably already have in your home. And if you need to purchase a few items, you will find that they tend to be very inexpensive. You can find everything you need at local craft stores, and I'll even share a few tips about cheap items you can find at hardware stores or home improvement stores.

Another great feature of this craft is that it's so easy to learn and grasp. This means it's a great activity to do with kids. It's also great for people who might not think of themselves as crafty or creative. I've seen it work well with older adults at nursing homes and retirement centers, too.

In This Article

What kind of paint to use

What surfaces work with this technique

Best tools and supplies (and where to find them)

Dot painting techniques

Clean-up tricks and strategies

Videos, links, and tips galore!

Dot Painting Without a Big Investment

You can get started in dot painting without a big investment. All you need are some pencils with clean erasers at the end and some good card stock or heavy paper,

Gather three or so pencils and sharpen the erasers to different sizes. There are your dotting tools. You can use the sharpened lead size to create the smallest dots.

Applying different pressure on the pencils will create different-sized dots.

You can also try things that are around your home. Different-sized drill bits, toothpicks, a thumb tack stuck to the bottom of an eraser will all work. Dowels are the perfect flat tool to dot with-you can purchase different sized dowels in your local home improvement store.

Which Paints Should I Use for Dot Painting?

Most dot painters prefer to use acrylic paints for their artwork. The brand you choose doesn't matter; it's the consistency of the paint that is important. Some paint may be thick and leave a point at the top of the dot. Others may be too flat. Find the brand that works well for you.

Acrylic Paints: While acrylic paint may be the most popular kind of paint for dot painters, there is a difference in the quality of paint used. Two good brands of acrylic paint are Folk Art and Deco Art.

Fluid vs. Craft Paint: Regular acrylic paint is perfect for dotting stones because it is permanent when it is dry. Typical craft paints would include brands like Decoart and Craft Smart (available online and at local craft stores). Fluid paint is better on canvas. Golden and Opus are the two most well-known fluid paints for dot artists.

Satin vs. Matte: Satin has more shine to it-but be careful, as it can sometimes be a bit thicker than matte.

Transparency: One thing to consider is the transparency of the paint. That means how much of the black or white paper of your base will show through the paint. It is up to you which way you want to go, but make sure that you understand the type of paint you are buying. If you have a more transparent paint, you can always add some titanium white so that the base paper will not show through.

Thickness: Some paints that are too thick will leave a gob of paint rather than a dot. Or they might create a peak of paint that would be difficult to add another layer to if you wanted to. If the paint is too thick, just add a pouring medium like Liquitex Professional Pouring Medium. Just a drop or two will make your paint just the right thickness. On the flip side, if your paint is too thin, your dots will bleed into each other and become one huge mess. This is often the case with low-end or no-name products. Some metallic paints will also tend to be thin.

What Is Your Canvas?

There are so many ways and materials to paint dot paintings. Of course you can use a regular canvas-but there are so many more options to choose from!

Canvas: The first option you might think of.

Paper: Another popular surface. You can use it on greeting cards as well as scrapbook pages, journals, and any paper projects.

Glass: Glass jars, bottles, vases, and more.

Wood: Consider wall art, jewelry, and boxes.

Christmas ornaments: A fun way to express your creative side with dot painting.

As a beginner, it is wise to start with inexpensive card stock to practice on. Then graduate to a flat paint board. Once you feel comfortable with that, the world will open up to you!

Dot Painting Tools

You probably have many great painting tools around your home already! You just have to see their potential.

Very fine artist brushes: You may have many of these in your stash already. If you have a paintbrush that you no longer use, you can remove some of the bristles to create a fine brush.

Different-size paint brushes: Use the ends of the handle to paint with. Check out your stash to see the different sizes you may have.

Clean pencil erasers: Use these as a kind of stamp. They can be a handy tool for medium dots. You can use them as they are or taper the eraser to the size of your choice.

Nail or artist dotting tools: You might not have these, but you can get them easily enough.They come in ma ny different sizes.

Embossing tools: These come in different sizes, too.

Compass: Use to make circles on surfaces.

Pencils or chalks: Use to draw patterns.

Pencil erasers: Everyone has one or two in their homes!

Dowels: The end of a dowel is the perfect dotting tool.

Toothpicks: These make the tiny dots we all love.

Plastic palette: Use to hold paints. Very inexpensive.

Paper towels: Use to wipe off tools.

Parchment paper, craft mat, newspapers: Use to protect your work surface.

Q-tips: Handy to have. Use a leftover container of these to dump your used ones into.

How to Clean Your Tools

There is an old saying, "Be good to your tools, and they will be good to you." That same saying is true for all of your dot painting tools.

Here are some ideas that will help you keep your tool investment in tip-top shape for years to come:

Wipe the tool with a napkin or paper towel right after use. That way you will not transfer any color into another paint hue. Make sure to wipe each and every time. Keep a stash of paper towels in your craft space.

If you have hardened paint on your tools, soak in super hot water for 10-15 seconds and then wipe with a napkin or paper towel.

Avoid any solvents as they may corrode the surface of your tools.

Dotting Tools You Already Have at Home

Especially when we are starting out with a new type of craft or technique, it is good to find tools that you may already have in your home! Even if you have bee "dotting" for a while, you may want to consider adding some of these around-the-house items to your toolbox.

Toothpicks: These make wonderful little tiny dots.

Old paintbrushes: Use the end of the paintbrush to paint special dots.

Small and large make-up brushes: Use the ends of these to create dots in different sizes.

Pencil with a tack on the end: This creates a medium-size dot.

Spray bottle filled with water: Use to thin paints.

Plastic crochet hooks: Good dotting tools.

Dotting Tool Tips

There are a few easy tips that will make your dotting experience easier and much more enjoyable. Here are a few of my favorites on using tools:

If you are using a dowel or any other flat surface to dot, make sure to only dip the surface in the top of the paint. If you cover the side of the dowel with paint, you will not get a clean dot. (Make sure, however, that the flat surface is covered with paint.)

A light touch is always better! You want to barely touch the tool to the surface.

When you are making rings and want to keep your dots the same, use the dip and dot technique. Make sure to wipe the end of your tool frequently.

When you want to create descending dots, dip once and just keep dotting until you run out of paint.

Dot Painting Printables and Patterns

Dot painting is not limited to mandalas. There are many shapes and patterns that you can use to create a shape or design.

Start by looking for printables and patterns that are available for free online. Many browsers like Google and Bing have free printables and patterns available. There are some more lovely ones available from Free Jupiter.

You can print these out on your computer. Put them into a page protector and store them for future use.

Creating Mandalas

Mandalas are one of the most frequently used patterns in dot painting. The different designs and combinations that can be created are endless.

Mandalas are much more than mere designs. Mandala comes from the Sanskrit word mandal, meaning circle. It is a circular symmetrical design with repetitions of patterns that create an illusion of motion.

Mandalas can be used on all kinds of different projects. Think about canvases of course. But they can also be used on rocks, wood projects, and glass projects.

The mandala dot art patterns can be done on canvases, terracotta plates, coasters, pebbles, trays, and so on. The paintings can be used as gifts, home décor, wall hangings, fridge magnets, etc.

Start with a center dot and work your way out. There are no steadfast rules on how many dots to use or where to place them. Making mandalas is all about relaxing and enjoying the creative journey!

Since ancient times, mandala art has been considered as a form of meditative art. By drawing them, you can increase concentration levels and help the mind stay calm. Try it! I think you will end up enjoying the experience.

Mandala Resources

Why You Should Swatch Your Colors

Especially for beginners, it is a great idea to swatch your colors for reference later on.

Swatches are samples of the paint that you have. Sometimes, the color of the paint will look different wet versus dry, so having swatches lets you reference the colors to see how they will look together.

This is especially important if you have different brands of paint.

Taking this step will pay off on future projects.

1. Take a piece of 81/2 by 11 1/2 " black paper.

2. Cut a small strip of white paper at about 3-inches (2 pieces per page).

3. Make columns alternating with the black and white paper-spacing them apart.

4. With a white gel pen, write the name of the company and the color number. Start with the left column.

5. Dot the color both on the black and the white column. Make one larger dot and then a few smaller dots.

6. Paint a line of the paint.

7. Follow along with the colors in the same family: all the reds, yellows, etc.

8. You can place lines between the colors or not.

9. Once you have finished the left column go to the right side.

10. When your pages are done and dried overnight, place each one in a page protector.

11. You can use a loose-leaf binder or connect them with metal rings.

Tip: You can also do the same thing on a rolodex or just on swatch samples.

Step-by-Step Dot Painting Guide

1. Prepare your surface: Make sure that your surface is clean.

2. Cover your surface: Use a craft mat, glass mat, parchment paper, or wax paper. Make sure to tape down the parchment paper or the wax paper so it does not curl.

3. Cover the surface with a base coat of paint (optional): You can use any color. White and black are the most popular.

4. Gather your tools: This includes your dotting tools, paints, plastic palette, a wet cloth, pencil or chalk, ruler or compass, etc.

5. Draw guidelines: Use a ruler and or a compass to make guidelines with a pencil (either a lead or a white pencil). Find and mark your center and design from that point.

6. Or use a stencil: Stencils come in different patterns. You can use all of the stencil or part of it.

7. Or use a mandala design: I have seen some on Etsy. Perfect for beginners.

8. Select your colors: Use a color wheel to decide on colors. Use what you have. There are no set rules about color combinations.

9. Place the paint on your palette: Thinning is usually necessary. You can use a pouring medium or any other acrylic paint medium.

10. Start dotting: Every time you dot, re-dip into the paint. Start at the center dot and work your way outwards.

11. Erase any visible guidelines: You don't want those to show on the final work.

12. Spray with fixative: And wait for it to dry!

Walking the Dots Technique

Walking the dots is a simple technique to add some detail to your design. This is in contrast to the basic technique, called dip and dot, where you dip into the paint and then dot.

This technique uses a smaller tool than the dot you made before.

1. Dip into the paint with your tool.

2. Place a dot outside the dot you made before in the center of that dot.

3. Without re-dipping, use the paint on your tool to keep dotting around the outside.

4. Re-dip the tool into the paint.

5. Starting at the center, re-dot the center dot.

6. Then go around the mail dot.

Dot Painting With Stencils

You can use a stencil to create a colorful pattern without having to draw it yourself. This makes dot painting easy, especially for beginners. They can be applied to any surface including rocks.

They are a guide to help you create a pattern. It will help make your project more aligned and even. No guessing about where to put your dots!

Most of these stencils are in a circular or part circular pattern. You can make or use all of the stencil design or part of it. It's up to you. You use the stencil once you have applied the base coat to your project. You can use a pencil to apply the stencil design or you can use a tool that will actually etch the lines into the base coat. Using the etching tool works well because you do not have to work with erasing the lines later. Your varnish coat will hide any leftover lines from your stencil marking.

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Easy Dot Painting for Beginners: The Complete How-To Guide

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From greeting cards and scrapbooks to rocks, glassware, wood art, and more, dot painting crosses over into all kinds of crafts. Get started with this fun and relaxing technique today!

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Premium Photo | Lotus flowers Aboriginal dot painting

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