The dot is the simplest element of visual language. Dots can be round or irregularly shaped, and are defined by characteristics like size, shape, and color. Dots can be used expressively by grouping them closely together or spreading them farther apart. Dots have various uses like shading, coloring, indicating depth, and creating textures. The optical mix occurs when colors are perceived as blended by the brain due to the distance between dots, as exploited by Pointillist artists. Exercises are suggested to create pixel art using dots on a grid.

1. BASIC
ELEMENTS
OF VISUAL
LANGUAGE

2. THE DOT

3. 1.Definition

4. •The dot is the smallest
and simplest element of
visual language.
•Its first target is to
indicate a position since
it doesn´t follow any
direction.

5. 2.Types of
dots

6. •Dots are normally round, but
they can have irregular
surface because they have
different qualities such as
size, shape and colour.
•A shape is a dot when it takes
a very small part of the
surface where we draw. If it
is bigger than other shapes
around, we consider it a plane.
Dots
Plane

7. 3.Expressive
capacity
of the dot

8. We can create different
visual effects like :
•concentration
(gathering) = dots are
grouped
•dispersion (spreading) =
dots are at a distance

9. 4.Dot´s uses
We can use
dots for:

10. Shading:
To shade images to give
them a sense of volume.
Dots that are close
together make darker
areas; dots that are
farther apart make lighter
ones.

11. Colouring:
to colour the objects
and figures we
create. A colour is
uniform if the dots
are at an equal
distance from each
other. If the dots
are closer together,
the colour is more
intense than if they
are further apart.

12. Giving
images a
sense of
depth:
Smaller dots
seem further
away, larger
dots seem
closer.

16. Producing
and
creating
textures

17. 5.Optical Mix

18. It is when colours are
mixed with the help of
distance. Colours aren´t
mixed on the palette or on
the painting, our brain
interpret them as a group
and mix them. The optical
mix was used first by the
pointillists.
If we observe a picture in
detail, we’ll be able to see
the grid of pixels. Pixels
define the quality of a
digital picture. We call
them “map of bits”.

19. 7.Artists and
movements
that use dots

20. Ancient
Mosaic

21. Pointillism

22. Roy
Linchestein

23. Australian
Aboriginal
Art

24. Photo-Mosaic

27. Other artists

28. Exercises

29. WITH DOTS

60. WITH PIXEL
ART

61. Create different drawings on a grid paper. Cut them and paste them on your
drawing pad.

63. Instead of getting
different drawings you
also can create a big
composition on a grid
paper. When you
finish, cut it and paste
it on your drawing pad.