REFLECTIONS

What is pointillism?

It’s something my good friend Randall Peterson of Forest Lake began trying to learn in 1989. Since that time, Randy has created 250 pieces that are part of his extensive art collection.

Randy was hired by me at ECM Publishers of Coon Rapids. He was an outstanding commercial artist and graphic designer. He just recently retired.

His passion is something inside him. Randy and I have both went off in different directions since we have retired. Randy continues to create artwork, chiefly pointillism pieces.

Before I give you a running history of Randy’s pointillism, he and wife Kathy sort of adopted us and helped us through the grieving process when our daughter Tammi passed in 1995.

From that time on, especially in the early years after her death, they have watched over us. Randy and Kathy even helped us shop for Christmas presents for our family members. We love you, Kathy and Randy.

Our lines of communication have now diminished, but we recently broke bread with the Petersons at a Perkins Restaurant in Forest Lake. We found out very quickly that Randy has graduated to one of the leading pointillism artists in America.

He said he often thought of creating his own artwork and eventually opening his own business. He’s close to that now.

Randy recently published a book on pointillism, entitled “From a Passion Within.” It includes a glossary of most of his pointillism drawings. He started in black and white and moved on into color.

The art is what it is, a creation by making thousands of dots form any object you desire. Randy initially became interested in drawing light houses. He traveled all over the northwest, shooting photos of lighthouses and then making them into dot drawings.

From this point, he begins to add black ink and dots one at a time. Tones and depth are added through the placement of dots, and the artwork begins to come to life. Shadows and depth can be seen by the variation of how close the dots are placed in correlation to one another.

“As I near completion, I can feel the adrenaline running through me with a wonderful feeling of accomplishment,” Randy said.

The tools and supplies he uses in creating pointillism art include Rapidograph pens, pencils, a metal ruler, a variety of watercolors, a fine detail watercolor brush, a tray to clean brushes, and a piece of Strathmore illustration board or something similar.

Coffee is optional!

Pointillism, which is also referred to as stippling, was introduced by French artist Georges Seurat in the late 1800s. Seurat perfected this style by using a brush and applying dots of colored paint on white canvas.

The style of pointillism is a very delicate process. Once the ink is applied, the artist is committed to the process.

Randy says he has begun to understand the true meaning and value of passion, patience, and persistence in life. With those qualities, he said any dream can be born.

I could go on and on about pointillism, and I will in upcoming Reflections columns. We will preview some of its recent art projects.