There are moments in life that change everything, and most of the time, you don’t notice them until years later. Mine happened while teaching in a kindergarten classroom during playtime. A student handed me a sheet of paper and asked me to draw something. I grabbed a pen, pressed it down, and instead of a clean, confident line, the cheap paper swallowed the ink and left one giant dot.
So, I made another.
Then another.
I didn’t know the word pointillism. I had known the term stippling because of art classes in university, but I only thought it was used for shading in comic books. I was simply making dots because the paper gave me no other choice. Strangely enough, it felt natural. The more I worked, the more something clicked. That one messy ink blot started a hobby that has now become a huge part of my life.
Two years later, that accidental moment led me to the biggest art challenge I have ever attempted: a 40-hour portrait of the Terminator.
And yes. It nearly broke me.
But it also changed me.
Why I Took on the Terminator
Before this piece, I had only created animals. My first attempts were a sea turtle, American bison, and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Later came a 20+ hour lion and a full series of the Chinese Zodiac I created for a children’s book that I wrote (I can save that for another post). People loved them, but deep down I wondered if I could create a human face. Could I make something recognizable enough that someone could look at it and say, “That is Arnold Schwarzenegger”?
There was only one way to find out.
So I started.
Tiny dot after tiny dot.
Week after week.
More than once my wife walked past the desk and asked with a raised eyebrow, “Are you still working on that robot?”
Yes. Yes I was.
The Hard Part Nobody Talks About
Pointillism looks peaceful and delicate when it is finished, but the process is intense. There were two challenges that nearly stopped me.
Patience. 
A portrait does not take shape right away. For hours it looks wrong. The temptation to quit is huge.
Shading. 
Shadows are not lines. They are thousands of graduated dots. The closer you get to realism, the higher the mental and physical demand.
Yet somewhere in the middle of the frustration, something amazing happens. The image begins to emerge. And the moment the eyes appear and the character becomes unmistakable, everything feels worth it.
The Colored Pencil Experiment
Once the original piece was finished, something felt incomplete. I had seen a few pointillism artists add color to their work and I knew of artists like Hannah Lipsy who create stunning realism with colored pencils. So I made a copy of my Terminator piece and started layering color over the stippling.
I used inexpensive pencils and honestly did not expect much. But the blending surprised me. The depth improved. The subtle tones over the original ink began to glow. The experiment worked better than I imagined.
It proved something important. Creativity thrives when you allow yourself to experiment.
Why Pointillism Is Perfect for Beginners and Families
Most people think pointillism is complicated, but it is one of the most forgiving art forms to start with. There are no “wrong” marks. A misplaced dot blends in. A shaky hand becomes texture. Kids especially love this because mistakes disappear.
If someone is starting their very first pointillism project, I usually recommend a tree. It offers freedom. But my personal favorites to learn with are animals. They allow detail without the pressure of perfect symmetry.
And if someone wants a challenge once they fall in love with it. Try a portrait.
Would I Do Another 40 Hour Piece?
Absolutely.
One day I hope to create a large portrait of Jesus in pure stippling. It will be a commitment. It will take patience. It will require time.
But the journey will be worth it. I’m just not ready quite yet.
Start Your Own Pointillism Journey
If this story inspires you even a little, do not wait. Grab a pen. Sit with your kids, spouse, or a friend, and make a couple hundred dots together. See what happens.
I created a free printable starter pack to help anyone begin the right way.
👉 Download the Free Pointillism Starter Pack
(grid, supplies list, and beginner challenge calendar included)
Then, if you want step-by-step help, scroll over to the full Pointillism Guide on Hobbies and Homes. It walks you through the basics of traditional pointillism, so you can get started a bit easier than I did.
Final Thought
Art does not require perfection. It only requires one thing: the willingness to begin.
That first dot changed everything for me.
Maybe your first dot will do the same, so have fun with it.
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