What is Stippling and Where Did it Originate?

Stippling is the process of creating a balance between negative and positive space by using dots to give the illusion of light and dark. It was first used by Giulio Campagnola, an Italian engraver, in 1510 during the Renaissance era. The process aims to give higher contrast and texture than cross hatching, crossing lines to create depth, when engraving for printmaking. By tightly concentrating dots, artist can create smoother shadowing than cross hatching.

Stipple in Tattoos

Though Stippling, coined in the 1500s, it exists in some of the earliest tattoos recorded. Icemen and Egyptians have been found to use this technique, often used as a process to elevate pain in early history. Since its height in 2017, stippling (also known as dot-work) has seen a dramatic increase as a desired style in both clients and artists alike. The style lends to the artist’s creative license and overall appearance.
Though typically found in geometric, mandalas, spiritual, or religious tattoos, dot-work can be appliable in nearly any design. Tattooing in this style is a precise and time-consuming project, using hundreds if not thousands of dots, and is one of the least painful styles to receive.

Stippling vs. Pointillism

Dot-work differs from Pointillism, both in process and overall longevity in tattoos. Pointillism was developed in 1886 during the impressionism era – nearly two hundred years after stippling. Pointillism uses dots to create depth as well, but instead uses colors to create an overall image. Tattooing in Pointillism, however, over time, as the ink naturally spreads, the colors run the risk of merging together creating a muddy appearance. If an artist was to use similar colors in close proximity, they could eventually blur into a solid color; effectively losing the dot-work appearance of the tattoo.

Sources:
Funhouse Guesthouse | Dotwork and Stippling Tattoos in Pacific Beach
Each Speck is Special: Dotwork Tattoos • Tattoodo
What Is Stippling? (thesprucecrafts.com)
Dotwork Tattoos: A Complete Guide With 85 Images – AuthorityTattoo
What is the Most Pleasurable Style to Be Tattooed In? – Tattoo Ideas, Artists and Models (inkedmag.com)