The Technique of Stippling

Brian Kawal introduces a decorative technique that can really make your work standout

At its very core, the idea of stippling is simply to create a series of decorative dots. In our medium of wood this could be either an applied technique, such as using ink or paint on the wood’s surface, or in the case of the specific technique I’ve worked on developing, poking holes into the wood itself. Stippling of differing varieties has long been used in furniture making as a textural element (see my article in F&C 294 on antique chair reproduction where I use the same tools and technique for a traditional carving detail).

Expounding on this idea though, you can use this technique for creating unique patterns and pictures on your work. Whether a standalone wall piece or a panel in a chair back, stippling can make your work really stand out. In this article I demonstrate and describe a simple stippled gradient which is the basis for any stippled work, and I’ve also included a couple of my past projects to show what can be done.

Preparation

1. Stippling is a very common artistic technique traditionally done with pen and ink on paper. In fact, before trying this on wood I highly recommend spending time with an ink pen first. It is much easier and faster to create dots with the touch of a pen as opposed to pressing each one into wood. As a reference, the ink drawing of the chair shown here took only a few minutes, while the simple gradient in wood made for this article took much longer. One doesn’t have to be able to draw to stipple – you can always trace out an outline on to a panel – but an understanding of shadows and gradients is imperative for performing the technique correctly
2. Many tools could be used, and as you try the process for yourself you may find a favourite that works comfortably for you. For me, a simple awl used both with and without a mallet is the tool of choice. The advantage of using an awl is that different diameter holes can be created using a variance of pressure, as you can see in this picture. No matter what you choose, you will want to find something that feels comfortable in your hand. A medium-sized piece of stippling can contain tens of thousands of holes and take several days to make, so comfort is important
3. Before starting to stipple it’s vital to properly prepare your panel. Without a stain the stippling would be extremely hard to see, but to create maximum contrast only the holes should take the stain. This can be achieved by sanding the panel first and applying a very light coat of clear lacquer. It’s important the finish is easy to puncture with the awl. I use a light coat of an aerosol touch-up lacquer as it applies easily and dries quickly

Stippling

4. Now comes the time-consuming part: dots, dots and more dots!
5. Create your shapes, adding shadows and textures to give dimension to your piece

Finishing

6. Once you’re finished it is time to really make your stippling stand out. Wipe a heavy coat of dark stain across your panel and immediately scrub it off. You may need to repeat this step several times to get stain into all the holes. This is a great time to reassess and make any further adjustments to the stippling
7. Once that’s done, lightly sand your panel and apply your final clear coat of lacquer
8. By this point you may feel as I do that there is only so much poetic waxing, flowery descriptions and tutorial write-up that can be used for what amounts to poking holes in wood with a piece of metal! That being said, you may find stippling to be quite enjoyable and you definitely should give it a try if the idea appeals to you. So sand up a panel, grab an awl and create something amazing! You can see more of my designs on @spadewerks on Instagram

Further reading

The Discovery of Pyrography

PHOTOGRAPHS BY @TASHAMARIEGALLERY/BRIAN KAWAL

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