Pointillism in pyrography is one of those techniques that looks deceptively simple… until you realize your hand is cramping and you’ve only filled one square inch. But once you get the hang of it, pointillism becomes one of the most meditative and mesmerizing ways to build texture.

In wood burning, pointillism is all about controlled dots, using heat and pressure to create depth, patterns, and gradients. Want fur? Dots. Want stone texture? Dots. Want a magical, glowing moon? Yep. Dots again.

Why Pointillism Works

Because the brain loves patterns. When you cluster dots tightly, it reads as shadow. When you spread them out, it reads as light. When you blend the two, you get depth without a single stroke.

How to Practice

• Start with a 1-inch square. Fill it with evenly spaced dots. This will feel like punishment. It’s supposed to.
• Create a gradient from dark to light using only pointillism.
• Try a small object such as a leaf, a mushroom (I know, I know), or a feather, using only dots.

Pro Tips

• Don’t jab your pen. Let the heat do the work.
• Rotate your wood, not your wrist.
• If you get impatient, take a breath and remind yourself: you chose this hobby voluntarily.

I used pointillism for the background in this explosion in the sky piece from the 52 Weeks of Fire Project.

And if you want to know about pyrography get my free guide below!