Indigenous Australian Dot Paintings

Evidence has shown that Indigenous Australians have been around for more than 60,000 years.

There is no evidence of a written language, however Australian Aboriginals have used plant shoots, Echidna quills and small twigs to paint their 'dreamtime stories'.

Their art consists of thousands of colourful dots to tell a story. Unlike their European counterparts, Indigenous Australian artists do not use easels, preferring to sit or lie down on the ground with their canvas.

Introduce your residents to 'dot painting' art!

Object:

• Promote tolerance. Stimulate artistic flair.

Materials:

• Dot painting templates provided
• Water based paints in 'earthy colours': orange, dark blue, moss green, dark red, dark and light gray, red brown, dark and light brown.
• Japanese and Chinese chopsticks (instead of brushes). You can also use an upside down pencil or a cotton bud.

Instructions:

• Sit 4 or 5 residents around a table. Let other residents sit nearby to watch the work. Show residents a painting you have made previously to inspire and enthuse them.
  
  
• Download and print templates (3 provided).
  
  
• Place a template in front of each resident and fasten with a little blue tack to the table (so it won't move).
  
  
• Let the residents choose what sort of chopsticks they would like to use. Pass the chopsticks around and point out that the Japanese chopsticks will make substantially smaller dots than the Chinese chopsticks.
  
  
• Demonstrate by dabbing a chopstick once in paint and making 3 to 4 dots following the outlines of the template drawings.
  
  
• Explain to residents that after making 3 or 4 dots it is necessary to dab the chopstick into paint again. Lots of patience is required, this is a very therapeutic activity!
  
  
• Let paint dry and then display finished artwork in a prominent place in your facility so that visitors and other residents can see them.