top of page
back to top

BEST STARTS FOR KIDS

Experimenting With Dot Painting

Hand drawn Aboriginal abstract depicting

​

Prompts

  • Type Aboriginal Artworks into Google Images

  • Look at Australian aboriginal art and discuss the use of repetitive dots and patterns to inspire dot painting

  • Discuss the concept of earth colours: Named because paints were made from the earth

  • Note the use of specific symbols (often repeated in artworks) to depict meaning. e.g. river, meeting place, person, etc

​

Simple ideas:

  • use various sized paper, cardboard shapes (like a shield for example) or a long cylinder (to make a didgeridoo,) rocks, fabric, boxes

  • use different types of paint: water or acrylic

  • use different brushes, sticks, printing media

​

​

You may like to paint the background first so the dots stand out in contrast.

 

And experiment first to find the best technique to create uniform circles (dots.) I have found the best result is achieved by loading just the very tip of the brush.

​

Extension

  • Type Mandala into Google Images

  • Look at and discuss the extensive use of repetitive dots to create and supplement line usage patterns

  • Substitute paint for black textas and plain white paper

  • Extend using a variety of different colours

​

​

The girl draws a mandala.jpg

​As a starting point for young children you can supply food colouring as water paint for as little as $3.60 in small bottles that your children can dot paint with, without creating any mess at all. Or cheap paint sets can be bought for around $10 and the quality of the paint is reasonable.

 

It's important though to supply some reasonable quality paintbrushes ranging in size from fine to thick as this allows them to create quality work.

​

But I believe the best results for dot painting will be achieved using acrylics

Aborigines Dot Painting Art as a new Hob

​

​Some of the skills they will likely develop are:

  • increased hand eye coordination

  • increased hand strength and technique

  • mathematical language linked to colour mixing and shades: lighter and darker

  • increased knowledge of colour blending (making earth colours)

  • creativity and the joy associated with creativity

  • perseverance

  • refining & trial and error processes

  • the ability to plan then create or not plan and create

  • self-esteem & confidence building

​

Some Mathematical Language:

  • blend

  • light

  • lighter

  • lightest

  • dark

  • darker

  • darkest

  • red, crimson,

  • orange, salmon, apricot

  • yellow, ochre, lemon

  • white

  • black

  • grey

  • brown, tan, muddy

  • primary colour

  • secondary colour

Some Language Linked to Materials and Technique

​

  • paint: line, solid, swish, press, hold, acrylic, oil, water

  • paper: water colour (absorbent) craft (divide, fold) tissue, tracing, newsprint, cartridge, waxed, textured, cardboard,

  • repeating pattern

  • circle, dot, cylinder

Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. It highlights what successful parents do differently to those who struggle. Best Parenting advice.com provides free online resources for busy parents who want the best practical advice on: how to give kids a best start in life, better tips for parenting toddlers, effective child rearing strategies, behaviour management tips, successful goal setting and organizational strategies for successful families, easy family dinner recipes, self-care tips for time-poor parents and free kids learning games. The aim of Best Parenting Advice.com is to provide quality practical parenting tips and advice to best help children and families succeed, using the convenience of a website.

​

This website provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. Best Parenting Advice.com does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or with every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this website to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Similarly users of this website are advised to follow any recommendations for seeking professional advice as all information on this site is generic. Best Parenting Advice.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems.

 

Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.

bottom of page