Dot Painting

Sessions:  2
Hrs per Session:  2

Dot painting is a traditional Aboriginal Australian art form from the Central Desert, inspired by ancient body, sand, and rock art. It visually represents Dreaming stories—spiritual narratives about creation, land, and ancestry. Designs often hold sacred meanings passed through generations.

The modern movement began in the 1970s at Papunya, where Aboriginal artists used dots to obscure sacred symbols while sharing culture through art. It soon gained national and global recognition.

Uses thousands of dots to form symbols like circles (sacred sites), U-shapes (people), and lines (paths or tracks). Colours are earthy or vibrant, and artworks often show aerial views of land.

Artists paint key symbols, then apply dots with sticks or tools in layers. The work may be verified by elders for cultural accuracy.
Traditional: Ochres, bark, natural tools

Modern: Acrylic paints, canvas, dotting tools (sticks, brushes)