System and method of pointillist painting

A system of pointillist painting, comprising:

• an automated 3-D positioning system disposed proximate a painting surface;
• a colorant dispenser coupled to a gantry structure and having a dispensing tip in fluid communication with a colorant chamber configured for storing a liquid colorant, the gantry structure operable to move the colorant dispensing tip to a specified position on the painting surface, where the colorant dispenser is operable to apply a specified controlled amount of a liquid colorant to the painting surface, the colorant dispenser adapted for depositing a colorant dot having a two-dimensional coverage and three-dimensional profile at the specified position on the painting surface, wherein the colorant dispenser further comprises:
• a piston disposed in the colorant chamber;
• and
• a push rod coupled to the piston operable to advance the piston toward the dispensing tip to exude the specified amount of liquid colorant onto the painting surface;
• and
• an air nozzle coupled to the colorant dispensing tip operable to controllably direct at least one measured puff of pressurized air to modify at least one of the two-dimensional coverage and three-dimensional profile of the colorant dot already deposited on the painting surface.