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Monday, November 22, 2021

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS

 Australian Aboriginals

Learning Targets

I can...

  • Create an original Australian Aboriginal using drawing techniques learned in class
  • Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), shape variation (geometric, organic), and value (tints, shades) inspired by Australian Artist (1926-1998) Rover Thomas
  • Use painting techniques (pigment, pointillism, layering) and design principles (gradation, proportion, composition) based on Indigenous Art
  • Define Dot Painting (produced by repeated imprints of paint covered brushes, dotting sticks, or instruments onto a surface)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Dumbun Owls (1987) Rover Thomas

2. Read Roads Cross: The Paintings of Rover Thomas by National Gallery of Australia

3. Discussion Questions "Who are Australian Aborigines? What styles of storytelling do Australian Aborigines practice? What is the Rainbow Serpent? Do Indigenous people own their own land? Have Indigenous people always owned their own land? Have Indigenous children always been brought up by their families? What kinds of food are available to Indigenous people? What is life-like for Indigenous people today? What is a Monotreme animal? Which two animals are Monotremes? What is a Marsupial mammal? Which three animals are Marsupials? What is a Placental mammal? Which of the following is a Placental mammal? Which Australian bird has a bird head and kills snakes? Which Australian bird is the second largest bird in the world?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 8 X 12 Drawing Paper

2. Add line types (contour, outline, perspective) to positive space (animal) of animal drawings 

3. Outline line types (contour, outline, perspective) with neutral colors (black, brown, grey) for the Australian Aboriginals

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Australian Aboriginals for Assigned Table

2. Marlu- Kangaroo Dreaming (1995) Rover Thomas

3. Discussion Questions "What two species of Crocodile live in Australia? Which of the two crocodile species is bigger? How many species of snakes are there in Australia? Which Australian snake is considered the most poisonous? Which is the largest Shark in Australian Waters? Does the artist paint in long brushstrokes? Are the lines curved, straight, thick, or thin? Does the artist use a variety of shapes? What types of shapes do you see? What are the colors that the artist uses? What do you think the black cone is? What do you think the red and yellow shapes around the cone are? What are similarities in the story behind this painting and the ones you have heard before?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use warm colors (red orange yellow) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the animal paintings

2. Use cool colors (green blue purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the animal paintings

3. Use embellishments (plastic eyes, bubble wrap, brown paper) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the Australian Aboriginals 

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Australian Aboriginals for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (tempera paint, popsicle sticks, paint brushes)

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (reflective light, light source) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the animal drawings 

2. Add shadow (cast shadow, reflective shadow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the animal drawings

3. Add details (whiskers, spots, eyelashes) to the positive space (animal) of the Australian Aboriginals

Artist Examples


Student Examples