3rd grade artists learned about Aboriginal art. According to Artlandis Aboriginal Art Gallery, the Aboriginal culture dates back as far as between 60,000 to 80,000 years. Ochre and earth tones were used to paint on rocks and there was no written language for Australian Aboriginal People. Stories were passed on through generations by using symbols throughout their artwork. Dot paintings were created using small dots of earth tone paint such as yellow (representing the sun), brown (the soil), red (desert sand) and white (the clouds and the sky). These paintings were mostly images of animals or lakes, and the dreamtime (how the world was created).
Some people believe that the dots were a by-product of the tools at hand—sticks and fingers for mark making. Others believe that dots were used to hide information from white men when the Aboriginal people became afraid that they would be able to see and understand their sacred, private knowledge.
