Artistic people a question? (UPDATE in OP)

[Chib]

For my cell biology class I have to draw illustrations of white blood cells and an amoeba from a lab activity that I had to do Tuesday. To draw these illustrations the professor said we have to use a stippling technique and I've been practicing and its not working out to well. I'm artistic enough to draw but I'm stumped using this technique he gave us this mechanical pencil we have to use and I'm having no success. I know I'm rambling so I'm basically asking for advice or pointers or if anyone knows what stippling even is lol.


UPDATE: Yes! I can stipple properly with ink! That's all.

[pooh8402]

mechanical pencil??? no. sharpies, especially fine point sharpies, are your friend here.

stippling means that you use dots to draw, instead of lines. in order to shade an area darker, the dots are closer together.

here are a few lessons that I think may help (disclaimer: I have not clicked on every link in here, just skimming): www.drawinghowtodraw.com/drawing-lessons/improve-drawing/stippling-strokes-tutorials.html

edit: I do cheat by using a pencil to lightly draw the shape I want, then stipple over the pencil with my marker.

[jek]

Check out this tutorial: learntoart.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/how-to-shade-with-pointillism/

I am thinking a mechanical pencil would be really tough though as you want to touch the pencil to the paper to leave a dot without actually moving the pencil and making a line.... a fine tipped pen would work a lot better.

[Chib]

I'm going to talk to my professor if I can use something other than the mechanical pencil but he was really adamant on using the pencil that he gave out. I've been practicing with it and it's extremely time consuming especially when I have to draw 6 different things plus stippling.

[waffletime]

Yeah, definitely ditch the mechanical pencil. Also, I'm in cell bio right now too!

[jek]

Yeah, I don't know why anyone would recommend a pencil for stippling. Not the best tool.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

You stipple with ink not graphite! You have been set up to fail!

[lexxasaurus]

He's being a dick if he really wants you to produce good stippling with a mechanical pencil.

[iamgrace]

Stippling with pencil is never going to work for you.

[bohemianmango]

Stippling without ink or color seems so time-consuming and pointless for a biology assignment. That sounds frustrating.

If the mechanical pencil is an absolute requirement, it might be easier if you have your paper on a softer surface like a pad of paper. The dots will show more and it won't be as noisy.

[Chib]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to ask today if I can use ink *crosses fingers*.

So any ultra fine pen will work? Such as this:

www.michaels.com/faber-castell-pitt-artist-pen/M10185299.html#start=76

Or will sharpie work?

[MWOS]

let's focus on what is most important here. why the fuck do you have to stipple in cell bio?

[Chib]

Jan 29, 2015 10:32:17 GMT -5 MWOS said:

let's focus on what is most important here. why the fuck do you have to stipple in cell bio?

Believe me I have no clue, all I know is I have to draw and then stipple basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes etc and then draw an amoeba and draw/stipple where its lysomes and mitchondria are. I think its a big time waster.

[MWOS]

Jan 29, 2015 10:35:52 GMT -5 Chib said:

Jan 29, 2015 10:32:17 GMT -5 MWOS said:

let's focus on what is most important here. why the fuck do you have to stipple in cell bio?

Believe me I have no clue, all I know is I have to draw and then stipple basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes etc and then draw an amoeba and draw/stipple where its lysomes and mitchondria are. I think its a big time waster.

:?

[smock]

When I was in middle school I made a plant cell cake and an animal cell cake, with candy and licorice to make the parts of the cell.

My assignment was delicious.

[Chib]

Update.

[MixedBerryJam]

Jan 29, 2015 10:57:26 GMT -5 smock said:

When I was in middle school I made a plant cell cake and an animal cell cake, with candy and licorice to make the parts of the cell.

My assignment was delicious.

My son did this a few years ago with gelatin, marshmallows, m&m's and I don't know what all else. He used a plastic shoe box for the plant cell because they have cell walls (I think) and a mixing bowl for animal cells because they don't, and I still have a shitton and a half of unflavored gelatin in my cupboard.

[poisonkisses]

Jan 29, 2015 10:32:17 GMT -5 MWOS said:

let's focus on what is most important here. why the fuck do you have to stipple in cell bio?

When I took cell bio any time we looked at something through a microscope we had to draw what we saw and include it in the lab report. Then whenever we wrote something about it's appearance we'd write in brackets which figure we were referring to. It sucked when there were really dark areas and you had to sit there and make endless dots. I can't remember if we were told why shading isn't allowed though. 

[insominac]

So strange. I'd think mandatory stippling would only be done in a medical illustration task - not some random biology class. I mean, you're going to have a lot more things to worry about than capturing the gradient of the cytoplasm.