Several people and cultures have created art using dots. You can too! Create dot art at home or come to the Gilroy library on Saturday, November 27 any time between 11 am - 1 pm to make dot art on eucalyptus bark! We will study the bark by feeling the ridges, looking at the holes in the bark, and studying the color of the bark. Then, we will be using q-tips and create dot art on the bark.
Let's take a look at some of the people who have used dot art:
Aborginal art is art made by indigenous people on the continent of Australia. The art may be on leaves, wood carvings, rock carvings, ceremonial clothing, and sand painting. The oldest Aboriginal art is 40,000 years old. Aboriginal artists have used dot art as a medium for telling stories.
Pointillism is a technique of painting small, distinct dots of color in a pattern to form an image. By standing a distance away from the painting, the dots blend into the desired shape and color. Georges Seurat and Paul Signac developed this technique in 1886.
Creating a mandala is a method of mediation. Mandalas are special circles with a unique meaning to each artist. Mandala art begins with a central point and all other dots and colors radiate from that point. A mandala is a symbol of the universe for many Buddhists and Hindus.
Roy Lichtenstein was a pop artist in the 1960's. His art was inspired by comic strips. Lichtenstein used stencils to fill in areas on his canvas with small dots known as Ben-Day dots. Ben-Day dots use 4 main colors-cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. More colors and shapes were created by overlapping the dots or having more or less space between the dots.
Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist. All of her paintings, drawings, sculptures, and clothes contain dots. Kusama said, "Our earth is only one polka dot among million stars in the cosmos. Polka dots are a way to infinity."
What are some ideas for you to create dot art? Here are some examples:
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Be inspired to create dot art with these books:
