Why don't the Aboriginal Desert artists use natural pigments?

Many people feel that the use of colourful acrylic paints by Aboriginal artists makes the works less authentic. This stunning work by Jeannie Petyarre has an amazing energy, but still maintains the vital elements of her Dreaming.

In the Desert works are colourful. When the missionaries first came to the area they introduced the artists to many different colours and mediums to produce work. They were given bright colourful clothes to wear.

Many of these colours were new to them and, to put it simply, give an artist colour and they will use it.

Whilst the painting styles and colours have changed the message is still the same as it was over 40,000 years ago. Many of the artists, like Jeannie, have become major artists on the world stage, their styles have evolved from painting very static work to works of art that can sit side-by-side with some of the greatest artists of all time.



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more about Aboriginal Children's paintings

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If you want to see more images of the children please go to my website

The works for sale have been done during the school holidays

Aboriginal Children's paintings

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The children of Yuendemu learn from their parents how to paint their Dreamtime stories, these stories are passed down from generation to generation and it's important to get them right. The Dreamtime goes back to creation when the creator spirit swept across the land making the plants and animals, trees, mountians and also humans. Each human was given responsibility for a plant, animal and part of the land which they had to learn how to look after and protect, then in turn pass on their knowledge to their children who would become caretakers.

These are the children who will learn from their parents to be those caretakers.

Some history.......

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Aboriginal paintings are a means of visual communication, Paintings were done originally on the body for ceremonies such as initiation or funerals. Cave walls depicted images of the Creator Spirits, animals and hunters. Drawings in the sand showed animal footprints or mapped the way to waterholes or ceremonial meeting places.

Today many paintings are done on canvas and paper, a lot, as in the case of the works coming from the Desert, have a very contemporary look to them.....the styles might have changed but the message is still strong.

These contemporary works are sought after by collectors worldwide and have put Aboriginal art on the map as a worldwide art movement, educating and making all who view these works learn more about the indigenous people of this country as well as an understanding of this land.

Buying Aboriginal art

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A lot of people are totally baffled when buying Aboriginal art for the first time, what sort of painting to buy and if I'm spending my hard-earned cash how do I know it' any good, will it go up in value and is it authentic???

Firstly, and I have said this over and over again not only to my students, but also to many who have contacted me to purchase....only buy a painting first and foremost if you really love it.

The major collectors of Aboriginal art are absolutely passionate about it, I havn't yet met one who isn't, and they do a lot of research and study... but the bottom line still is make sure you actually love the painting and can live with it, don't just buy if you think it's going up in value because it's by a famous artist...a lot of people have been caught out by that.

Over this next week I'm going to write about the in's and out's of purchasing a painting...if you have any questions please ask away

Children of Yuendemu

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I am really excited and waiting for the next lot of children's paintings, I know that they have a lot of followers...hopefully they will arrrive in the next week and I'll get busy and put them on the site, so please watch out for them....there will also be a few "happy snaps" of the kids

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