The next stop of our global adventure is a country that’s especially close to our hearts. 😉 Welcome to the land down under, mates! We’re in Australia!
Just like Ayers Rock, today’s artistic tradition has very ancient origins. For centuries, Australian Aboriginals have painted their faces and bodies to designate social class and order, as well as to participate in religious rituals. As part of certain spiritual ceremonies, they would smooth an area of soil to create a canvas and draw sacred designs or ancestral beings. After the ceremony, they would wash off their body paint and smooth the soil to preserve the secret, sacred nature of these rituals.
In the 1970s and 1980s, some Aboriginals began taking these ancient designs and painting them on canvas, an art form that came to be know as Aboriginal dot painting—and the inspiration for today’s artwork! Aboriginal dot paintings still contain sacred meanings and designs, but the layering of dots and patterns conceal these sacred designs from untrained eyes. Such layering also causes very cool optical effects where shapes and images seem to move forward and backward on the canvas, creating unique, striking artwork.
These dot paintings became a way for Aboriginals to preserve their culture and perpetuate traditions while creating beautiful artwork for the modern world to see. It essentially became their own unique form of decorative memory keeping as they would preserve important stories and legends for future generations. How could we resist using this artistic tradition as inspiration for today’s artwork?
We are entranced by the intricate details of this page! Our artist expertly mirrored the layered effect of dot painting to create this mesmerizing feast for the eyes. In the background, she created shiny, black dots by stippling Liquid Glass on the black cardstock. On top of those dots she placed circles of colored cardstock. She then accented those dots with Flamingo Dots and Aqua Dots. What an amazing technique!
As you go about your crafting, remember that grandiose things, like this scrapbook page and Aboriginal dot paintings, are accomplished one dot at a time. Keep this in mind when you feel overwhelmed with your layouts or with preserving all your memories. Just take life one dot at a time! You may not feel up to the task of creating a masterpiece today, but you don’t have to! Today, just focus on adding one more dot to the mix.
P.S. Be sure to leave a comment to enter to win the travel stamp giveaway!
Recipe
12″ x 12″ Face Painting Fun Page
Make It from Your Heart™ Vol. 1: Pattern 5 (with alterations)
A1159 My Acrylix® LOL, X5760 Cotton Candy Cardstock, X5758 Sunset Cardstock, X5668 Honey Cardstock, X5764 Pear Cardstock, X5762 Lagoon Cardstock, X5759 Pacifica Cardstock, X5769 Thistle Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, 1386 Black Cardstock, Z1829 Black & Grey Glitter Paper, Z2153 Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z2641 Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z2192 Pacifica Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z2643 Canary Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z2191 Sunset Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z2195 Lagoon Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z1853 Aqua Dots, Z1934 Flamingo Dots, Z1263 Bitty Sparkles, Z679 Liquid Glass, Z1979 Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen, Z3171 Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection, Z3170 Cricut® Artiste Collection, Thread
Cricut® Shapes:
Art Philosophy
1/8″, 1/4″, 1/2″ <Circle1> (cut several, p. 21)
Artiste
½” Shift <Font> “FACE PAINTING FUN”
Love it!
Beautiful
Australia is definitely on the bucket list!
This one is on the top of my bucket list as well. An amazing land!
I am amazed to see the smoothness of the mountain. Beautiful!
What an awesome layout. I just can’t take my eyes off of it. This is a true work of ART!!!
Love the use of the circles and the colors. Australia was beautiful. I only had a brief week visit in Sydney, when they were getting ready for the Olympics
Visiting Australia is my #1 bucket list item!
I love what u have done. Dot paintings tell a story all of their own which is what makes each one so unique – just like the pages we make!
Very inspired and creating a special page for my grandson who just lost his m.um after a 3 yr fight with cancer.
It is truly beautiful, love the artwork on these pages.
Another country to visit on my bucket list. Maybe I need to get a passport first.
I’ve never seen this type of artwork before,,,thank you for expanding my world! It’s beautiful and amazing!
That artwork is absolutely georgeous…Im sure the picture doesn’t do it justice! I can see those flowing circles in blues and greens with glittery fish swimming around….hmmmmmm.
Such beautiful artwork Aboriginal art is very beautiful and very calming and I am glad you all like it is much as I do
What a fabulous layout. Love the graduation of colours and sizes on the black background – and the use of Liquid Glass – genius!
All those dots in the layout are absolutely mesmerizing. So beautiful.
Such a beautiful layout! I love the flow of the dots!
Inspiring layout. Love the flow of the dots.
Great layout! I love this travel inspiration series.
Beautiful!!
Amazing
Do love this 🙂 Simple but beautiful layout
Wonderful to see Australian culture being recognized
It has only been in recent years that I have come to appreciate my Father( born in 1907 died in 2007) and his embracing of all cultures and nationalities .His inclusion of all cultures and his thirst for understanding of their diversities Despite 2 years of formal education he loved to learn about their countries of origin, their food , and to learn their languages so he could talk with
them so I have learned by example THAT IS POWER
Didn’t realize you can actually alter a picture by just changing out something small or large in the paper u choose to surround the picture…no wonder it feels like a long time to ..get it right….but very fun!
Just amazing! I wish you would include the name of this talented and patient artist.
Australia is the one that I missed… Oh my, it is so gorgeous. The picture lay out is a wonderful idea. That paper in absolutely gorgeous. I sure wish I could go on these trips… What a wonderful treat that would be.
No, I didn’t miss it…It is beautiful. I think that this is just a wonderful idea for us. Thank You from the bottom of my heart… God Bless!
Love the layout inspired by the Aboriginal Art! When I took art classes one of my favorite things was pointillism, so I feel drawn to this special Australian look! Thank you for sharing!
really inspiring art work with your around the world art. Thanks.
Love the designs on the canvas and how that carried over to the layout with the fun dot patterns!
Dot painting seems interesting. I love how that idea is turned to the background of a layout. It is super cool.
This layout keeps popping into my mind, I can’t wait to try this technique with the liquid glass
Beautiful and inspiring!
Fun page! Love the colors!
OMG.. love this layout!!! Will deffinately reproduce it!!!
What a beautiful page! I love the technique she used to create the different size dots.
I love the liquid glass dots! I first thought it was enamel dots. What a great effect.
I love the techniques used on this page. It is stunning with the black background. Very cool!
What a beautiful layout with the dots. It brings it to life.
WOW I never thought to do a page using dots, what a great layout idea.
I love how the dots flow across the page, leading the eye.
I am often overwhelmed with the number of photos I have and how will I ever get them all on layouts. These dots have reminded me that I should just concentrate on one layout at a time – one little spot by spot – and soon they will build into a beautiful collection.
Beautiful bright and fun layout.
Love these creative layouts!
I love this it’s gorgeous