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Dot Spirals

Intricate patterns are made up from thousands of dots in a circular shape. Printed as brown, purple and light blue on white paper
Print Date
Print Duration
1 hour, 21 minutes, 45 seconds
Paper Size
210×297 cm (A4)
Distance Drawn
22.58 m

Further exploration with spirals, this time using a modified algorithm for spacing points along a spiral path. Using tightly packed lines with large spacing between each point produces some interesting patterns.

This piece uses two distinct patterns, with dot sizes weighted to opposite ends of the spiral path. I plotted the second path an additional time with tweaks to sizing and colour, with a slight offset. It gives an organic, cellular feel. Each path has 4,000 dots, totalling 12,000.

A print-in-progress view of the second colour showing the tiny size of each of the dots compared to the tip of a fineliner pen

Pens used

  • Staedtler Pigment Liner

    — 0.5mm
    Purple, 308 05-6, Archival ink

  • Staedtler Pigment Liner

    — 0.5mm
    Light Brown, 308 05-7, Archival ink

  • Staedtler Pigment Liner

    — 0.5mm
    Light Blue, 308 05-30, Archival ink

Further Exploration

Another permutation, this time printed as silver on black. There’s something interesting about the irregular repetitions in the pattern. This path is made up of 6000 dots.

Silver dots on black paper. The irregular layout of dots forms patterns on the paper
Slowing to 240 fps really shows the viscosity of the metallic ink

Pens used

  • uni-ball Signo Broad Metallic

    — 1.0mm
    Silver, UM-153, Archival ink