Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal people are indigenous (the first) Australians. They tell stories in words and pictures about how the world began. They call this Dreamtime. Their stories are called Dreamings.
Aboriginal art uses 'Earth Colours'. Why? These are the colours of the desert. Aboriginal artists made their paints from natural materials
Aboriginal paintings also use lots of dots. Why? They used their fingers or sticks. There weren’t any art shops where they could buy brushes !
Aboriginal art includes lots of symbols for the natural things around them. A witchetty grub is a kind of caterpillar that Aboriginal people eat as a special treat. Can you see the witchetty grubs around the camp fire?

The symbols and their meanings

Dingo

Fire sticks

Goanna

Witchetty Grubs

Emu

Man

Woman

Child

Bush Banana

Yunedee Seed

Meeting Place

Coolamon

Kangaroo

Camp fire

Think that you know about Aboriginal symbols? Test Yourself!

| Aboriginal Symbols 1 | Aboriginal Symbols 2 | Aboriginal Symbols 3 |

These exercises are from the Virtual Art Room