Please help me with dots

I'm having trouble getting round dots. They seem to come out oval or even lines. Am I using the wrong brand brush, wrong size, wrong consistency of paint?

TIA

For me I find the trick to the best dots is the consistency of the paint. I have my paint runnier than usual (although not so runny that it runs... very fine line ) And using my size 3 round press straight on the tip, the harder I press the bigger the dot and I am barely touching for the tiniest dots.
Also my trick with the dots is start with a big dot and fade out to smaller dots, or I do 3 dots, one bigger one with 2 each slightly smaller forming a triangle shape.

That's exactly what I was going to say. It's all in the consistency of the paint & making sure your round brush is pressed down straight. You need a pretty light touch. Also, make sure to rinse your brush regularly. If the paint gets too gloppy on it, the dots will look distorted. Take a day & just practice dots on your arm.

If I do a thin paint, it doesn't seem to dry solid. You can see through it a bit.

Make a small hole in your paint by poking the end of the brush into it. Drip some water off your brush into the hole. Swish your brush in the hole a few times & you should have the right consistency(I'm using dfx, but have been told this works with all the paints). This will also give you a great consistency for linework.
This is called making a well.

Yep, everything they said.

Becxstar 123 (aha Bec Anthony) has a great youtube tute on dots I'm still working on them but I have found that brush quality makes a huge difference for me - I save a Lowel Cornell 7000 Takon No4 specifically for white dots. I also found Tag white better than Snaz white for dots but other colours Snaz seem ok . I'm with Linda with doing dots on your arm too. If I am too tired to practice anything fancy I just do loads of dots, starbursts and teardrops up my arms and legs.

Great idea. I'm prescibing a "back to basics" day for myself. Nothing but dots and teardrops over and over.

yes, these things will work with Snazaroo as long as you do make a little wet spot on the cake and work from there. On rare occasions, if I'm doing consistently sized, larger dots, I will use a qtip for them, but that's mostly for xmas tree ornaments and stuff.

I have a special brush that I use just for dots. It's a small round, with a rounded tip and rather short bristles. I get the paint pretty wet (not too wet or the dot will run) and just poke the dot gently in place. I think my brush works best after it's been used and has a bit of dried paint on it, making the tip a little smoother and thicker. It is definitely a mixture of brush type and paint consistency.

What they said...

And take a look at your brush tip. There are round and ultra round. Ultra round has more of a pointy tip, rather than a rounded. It makes for nice thin lines, but the rounded kinds is better for dots.

Thanks! I'm using TAG white. I already have a big well in the middle, but will try poking a little one and practice that way. I'll take a look at my brushes too!

I also sometimes use a dotterwand..

Oh, and just for your info... Detailz are offered by many face painting stores as a dotting solution. I got a ton when I 1st started painting. Not worth it. They work ok for a while, but then the consistency gets all off & they're a big waste. Plus, there's no real way to keep them sanitary. Just my opinion.

I'd like to hop on here with a question...I would love any other tips like Daizy's...specifically related to dot placement...like do you have any rhyme or reason as to where (and how copiously) you place your dots? I know this is all about composition...

Also, thanks to everyone who has posted about making a well in the paint. It's working out awesomely

For me the design pretty much will dictate what little accents I add. I always think complimentary not overpowering

I had the same problem at first, started using a wand then finally learned with a round brush.