Can anyone do aboriginal dot painting? (2023)

Can anyone do Aboriginal 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.

Remember a non-indigenous Australian (or any non Aboriginal person around the world) can never create an Aboriginal artwork because only people from specific parts of country can tell the story of that country.

"Non-Indigenous artists who work with dots can work without appropriation. Within the dot, there's a whole world that can be created.

We were given Wandjina to look after this particular country and it belongs to only the three tribes. Therefore it is only the people who are Ngarinyin, Worrorra or Wunumbal who can paint Wandjinas.

Dot Painting is a great way to encourage children to explore Aboriginal Art and help them to understand the colours used by the Indigenous people that are associated with the earth, including brown, umber, brick red, terracotta, yellow ochre, warm grey, burnt sienna, tan and shades of green.

The taboo is particularly strong among many Aboriginal groups in the South East of Australia, where it is forbidden and considered "cultural theft" for non-Aboriginal women, and especially performers of New Age music regardless of gender, to play or even touch a didgeridoo.

Your Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage is something that is personal to you. You do not need a letter of confirmation to identify as an Indigenous Australian.

It is important to acknowledge that photographing, filming and sound recording Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, places, objects, sites and cultural activities do occur without consent. In some instances privacy, identity and cultural heritage are exploited, misrepresented and depicted in negative ways.

Only an Aboriginal artist can produce Aboriginal art

Since a non-Indigenous artist is not from a particular tribe, that person cannot represent any form of Aboriginal art. But this does not mean that all other ethnicities are banned from creating their own artwork.

Why do Aboriginal people do dot painting?

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.

Traditionally, the highly creative application of body paint has been used as a way for Aboriginal people to show important aspects of their lives, such as social status, familial group, tribe, ancestry, spirituality and geography.

“An artist may make a work of art that includes a recognizable likeness of a person without her or his written consent and sell at least a limited number of copies thereof without violating” his or her right of publicity, the court found.

While it is possible to buy Aboriginal art from dealers, the most ethical way to purchase is from Indigenous-owned and operated art centres, including the likes of Injalak Arts in Gunbalanya, Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association on Melville Island, Karungkarni Art and Culture in Katherine and Aaruku Arts in Uluru, ...

If you use someone else's work, in whole or in part, without his/her permission you are infringing his/her copyright. If however, you came up with the same idea without having seen or heard about another's similar work, you will not be infringing his/her rights.

All you need are some pencils with clean erasers at the end and some good card stock or heavy paper, Gather three or so pencils and sharpen the erasers to different sizes. There are your dotting tools. You can use the sharpened lead size to create the smallest dots.

pointillism, also called divisionism and chromo-luminarism, in painting, the practice of applying small strokes or dots of colour to a surface so that from a distance they visually blend together.

Once your toddler is pretty comfortable with how paint works and how to spread paint around using a paint brush you can start painting in a more traditional way: with various colors in paint pots or on a pallet or plate and paper or another surface for them to paint on. This could be at around 2 or even 3 years old.

Wong said that the gender roles associated with the didgeridoo complicate its broader use more than most instruments: Because it's considered taboo in some regions for women to play the instrument, women are typically discouraged from playing it publicly, and, in some cases, even touching it.

Conclusion: To make a didgeridoo is a real craft!

To be a didg-crafter, you can't just make it up! One learns over time, constantly refining one's approach. And rare are the makers who've pushed the requirement for detail and perfection as far as Bob Druett (I will write a post with 5 of those didge-crafter).

Who would play Aboriginal instruments?

Different tribes used various instruments including boomerangs, clubs, sticks, hollow logs, drums, seed rattles and of course the didgeridoo. Hand clapping and lap/thigh slapping were common. Decorated drums were made from hollow logs and some covered with reptile skins.

One Nation NSW has proposed to abolish self-identification and introduce a “new system” relying on DNA ancestry testing with a result requiring a finding of at least 25 per cent "Indigenous" before First Nations identification is accepted.

Aboriginal Self-Identification Question process

Any client may self‑identify as being an Aboriginal person, regardless of legal status under the Indian Act. No proof of ancestry or belonging to a band is necessary.

Letter from an Indigenous organisation or Community Elder

We prefer a letter from an Indigenous organisation to confirm your heritage. However, we will also accept a letter from a Community Elder. Use the Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent letter to confirm your heritage.

People who identify themselves as 'Aboriginal' range from dark-skinned, broad-nosed to blonde-haired, blue-eyed people.

6) Traditional Aboriginal art requires authority, knowledge, association and recognition by the artist who produces the painting. Artists are only permitted to paint the stories and subjects that they are entitled to under traditional law.

In Australia, it usually refers to when a non-Indigenous person/organisation/group/business takes an element of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander culture and uses it without permission, cultural respect or any form of reciprocity or payment.

In the context of Indigenous artwork and craftswork, cultural appropriation means someone creating art or work that is integral to a particular community, and profiting off that work, without being a member of the community who created or cares for that art form.

What is the dot painting controversy?

White Australian artist is abused online for 'copying Aboriginal art' and 'stealing indigenous culture' by making traditional dot paintings. A young white artist who was abused on social media for selling Aboriginal-style dot paintings has apologised and admitted she was guilty of 'cultural appropriation'.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art is an expression of people's identity, culture, spirituality and relationships to Country. It tells stories of ceremony and Creation and connects people to ancestors and kin. Learn about what you can do to support its ethical trade.

The intricate portrayal of bone structures and internal organs give the paintings a unique three-dimensional effect. This type of artwork shows the deep connection between the artist, their country and all that dwell within it.

Because Aboriginals had a deep knowledge of the land they had been walking for generations, it is believed that they were simply representing these 'landscape dots' of the land by painting them onto the canvas.

Indigenous art is centered on story telling. It is used as a chronical to convey knowledge of the land, events and beliefs of the Aboriginal people. The use of symbols is an alternate way to writing down stories of cultural significance, teaching survival and use of the land.

Traditionally, bark paintings were produced for instructional and ceremonial purposes and were transient objects. Today, they are keenly sought after by collectors and public arts institutions.

Most symbolism in Aboriginal art focuses on the Dreamtime, which is the period in which Aboriginal people believe the world was created. Traditionally, symbols of the Dreamtime events were created on cave walls, carved into timber or stone, on the desert floor, and on their bodies with the use of body paint.

Aboriginal art refers to the spiritual and symbolic art practiced by Aboriginal peoples of Australia. While artistic styles vary from region to region, indigenous art has been shaped by common factors such as the environment and historical events shared between different tribes.

And there is nothing you can do (other than obtaining written permission from the celebrities in the paintings) to eliminate the risk that you would be sued by the celebrities if you sell the paintings.”

When an artist uses a photograph for reference, the painting or artwork is called a derivative work. While the artist can maintain some ownership over their own work, they first need permission from the original photographer to use the photo for reference.

Can I draw someone else's drawing?

The creation of a derivative work is by definition an infringement of copyright. The only person who can give permission for the creation of a derivative work is the owner of the copyright. You may want to work with artists and illustrators on collaborations.

It seems obvious, but Aboriginal art is only considered Aboriginal if painted by someone who is of that origin. A non-Indigenous Australian does not have the authority to paint an Aboriginal piece of artwork.

The price range is from $125 for an original artwork up to the most expensive painting we would have would be about $155,000. It's a broad range. The vast majority of artworks would be in the low to high hundreds and the low thousands, so the vast majority are affordable.

It is legal to copy anything. It is illegal to sell, publicize and publish a copy of an artwork unless you have prior permission from the copyright owner. It is also illegal to publish and sell an artwork that's substantially similar to another original work of art.

Accordingly, you cannot claim copyright to another's work, no matter how much you change it, unless you have the owner's consent.

It is a breach of copyright to copy somebody else's creative work without permission, including photographs.

There is nothing wrong with non-Indigenous people wearing or embracing Indigenous material culture, provided that culture was made locally, and was made for sale. Wear Aboriginal iconography and jewellery, but do it with integrity.

While art has often been inspired by religion in Western civilization, the art of Aboriginal culture inspired by religion is also linked to specific land. “The religious dimension is about identity,” Dussart says.

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.

Access to modern artist colours is the 20^th century led indigenous artists to experiment and to add to the colour palette that they traditionally used. Many shades of red including the manufactured and intense bright reds were taken up by artists.

How to buy Aboriginal art ethically?

Typically the best place to ethically purchase Indigenous artwork is from Aboriginal Art Centres. These art centres are essentially brokers between artists and the broader industry. Unfortunately it is not always easy to reach these centres or galleries which are often located in remote areas.

The price tag is typically determined by the size and composition of the artwork. Larger pieces with a high level of detail usually fetch a higher price than smaller and simpler canvases. However, another price determinant for a painting can be the age of the Aboriginal artist.

All you need are some pencils with clean erasers at the end and some good card stock or heavy paper, Gather three or so pencils and sharpen the erasers to different sizes. There are your dotting tools. You can use the sharpened lead size to create the smallest dots.

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.