QA

Question: How To Do Aboriginal Dot Art

What do you use for Aboriginal dot paintings?

Aboriginal Dot paintings are commonly executed in both Ochre paintings and Acrylics, however Acrylic paint is the more commonly used for these artworks. The paint used may be highly textured with a very raised surface or flat.

Is it disrespectful to do dot painting?

Only artists from certain tribes are allowed to adopt the dot technique. Where the artist comes from and what culture has informed his/her’s tribe will depend on what technique can be used. It is considered both disrespectful and unacceptable to paint on behalf of someone else’s culture. It is simply not permitted.

What do dots mean in Aboriginal art?

Dots were used to in-fill designs. Dots were also useful to obscure certain information and associations that lay underneath the dotting. At this time, the Aboriginal artists were negotiating what aspects of stories were secret or sacred, and what aspect were in the public domain.

What kind of paint do you use for dot painting?

My favorite paint that has a happy medium perfect for making those wonderful round dots we all love and adore are the basic acrylic paints such as FolkArt or DecoArt.

What kind of paint do you use for Mandala dot painting?

You can use a lot of different paints to make Mandala Stones. Personally I prefer to use acrylic paint (available here*) thinned out with water or Pelikan Plaka (available here*). The most important thing is the right consistency of the paint. If the paint is too thick or pasty, you need to add more water.

What materials do Aboriginal artists use?

Traditionally, materials used by Australian Aboriginal artists were sourced from the local environment. Rock, bark, wood and human skin were painted with pigments bound in material such as saliva, blood, plant gums and resins.

Is it OK to copy Aboriginal art?

The short answer to this one, is no, you can’t. Many artists and art critics believe that all art is derivative – that it is it builds on or is copied from another source.

Can you copy Aboriginal art?

All Aboriginal art is copyrighted. The moment an Aboriginal artist or author creates a work it is protected under the Australian Copyright Act 1968. Copyright generally protects an artwork from being copied during the lifetime of an artist and for 70 years after death.

Is dot painting Aboriginal?

Dot paintings are now internationally recognised as unique and integral to Australian Aboriginal Art. Dot painting originated 40 years ago back in 1971. Geoffrey Bardon was assigned as an art teacher for the children of the Aboriginal people in Papunya, near Alice Springs.

Is dot painting hard?

The dot painting technique is blowing up all over Pinterest and Instagram and its only growing more and more popular. As you scroll through the countless stunning dot painted rocks and canvases it’s difficult not to try and jump right into complicated designs and intricate dotting techniques.

Can anyone paint dots?

Can non-Aboriginal artists use the dot painting style? You have to find your own answer to that as it could be seen as cultural appropriation. “Non-Indigenous artists who work with dots can work without appropriation.

What is Dot art called?

Pointillism (/ˈpwæ̃tɪlɪzəm/, also US: /ˈpwɑːn-ˌ ˈpɔɪn-/) is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image.

What do dot paintings represent?

Traditional aboriginal dot paintings represent a story, generally regarding hunting or food gathering and usually have traditional aboriginal symbols imbedded throughout the painting. These symbols, when explained, give a completely whole new meaning to the painting.

What can I use for dot painting for kids?

For dots (black or white are most commonly used) use a cotton bud, your little one’s fingertips, or the stick end of a paint brush. The dots will give an awesome 3-dimensional effect to the artwork as they will be slightly raised.

Can children do Indigenous dot painting?

Children can be supported or encouraged to make their own symbol stones by painting Aboriginal symbols onto stones which can then be incorporate in their story telling. The use of Aboriginal symbols can also be used in the sandpit or on the ground where ever you are to visualize stories with children.

How thick should paint be for dot painting?

Tips for the perfect dot The paint consistency needs to be fluid. If it is too thick then it will not create the perfect dot. Tip the container of paint and if it pours out in 1 second it is a good consistency. If you paint is too thick, then add a couple of drops of water to the acrylic paint.

What kind of math is used in mandalas?

Mandalas are rich in mathematics (circle geometry, reflective and rotational symmetry), and provide useful practice with geometry tools including rulers, compasses and protractors.

What does yellow mean in Aboriginal art?

The sacred Aboriginal colours, said to be given to the Aborigines during the Dreamtime, are Black, Red, Yellow and White. Yellow represents water, and the markings on the back of the great snake ancestor (see our last blog on the Rainbow Serpent Myths).

What Colours do Aboriginal art use?

Materials (colours) used for Aboriginal art was originally obtained from the local land. Ochre or iron clay pigments were used to produce colours such as white, yellow, red and black from charcoal. Other colours were soon added such as smokey greys, sage greens and saltbush mauves.

What does a kangaroo symbolize in Aboriginal art?

Kangaroos often feature in traditional Aboriginal art as part of a hunting or ‘Dreaming’ story. They appear in symbolic form as track patterns or as illustrations of the creature itself.