Stippling is a technique that involves the use of small dots or marks to create shading or texture in a drawing or painting. A stippler is someone who specializes in this technique or who uses a stipple brush to apply these marks. Synonyms for the word stippler include dotter, marker, pointillist, dabbler, speckler, and point-maker. Artists may also use the term stipple tool or stippling pen to refer to the implement they use to create the small dots. Other related words include cross-hatching, hatching, and scumbling, which are also techniques used to create texture and shading in artwork.