When Aboriginal people paint their Dreamtime stories, it is about the law that has been learnt after many years of experience and learning. It involves learning how to survive in a harsh environment.  Therefore a lot of the artists are in their 60’s and beyond because the younger people would not have earnt, as yet, the right to paint and tell the stories.
THE DESERT ARTISTS - DOT PAINTINGS

Most people consider all Aboriginal works as “dot” paintings, but other areas, later explained, are very different in style.

 The abundance of dots painted on works come from the Centre and Western Desert.

Desert paintings can consist entirely of dots that makeup the design of the painting and in some cases today the dots are jointed together to form lines.

Iconography is used to depict animals, waterholes, people, tools etc. 

The Desert artists paint their Dreamtime stories relating to “Tjukurrpa” (name used in the Desert for the Creator Spirit).

Some of the most modern looking art of today is painted by the Desert artists   Many people, first viewing this work, comment on how contemporary it looks.   A lot of the artists who started painting in the traditional way have evolved into artists with their own distinctive style.  Their works can comfortably sit alongside any of the contemporary works of the non-Aboriginal masters of today.  Eg Ronnie Tjampitjinpa, George Tjungurrayi, Maggie Napangardi Watson, Emily Kame Engwarrye.

The Desert artists use acrylic paint, working on canvas.  The artists work sitting on the ground with a piece of canvas laid out before them.  In the case of the very large works the canvas is rolled-up and gradually unrolled as the painting progresses.  The works can be viewed as if you’re looking down at them from a great height, as that is the way that they have been painted.  When they are hung on a wall consideration needs to be given to the correct hanging aspect.