Aboriginal designs - Polly Pinder

Australian Aboriginal art has existed for millennia and some of the extraordinary rock paintings are believed to be over 40,000 years old. Colours were traditionally made from a collection of earth-based pigments, and patterned and figurative images were also painted on bark, boomerangs, shields, spears, masks, vessels and didgeridoos. Body art, from the simple smearing of clay on to the skin to detailed geometric paintings, was applied with a flat stick with soft padding at the end. These designs always conformed to respected patterns and were related to spiritual matters, ancestors, animals or tracts of land, as they still are today.

With 100 specially commissioned original images, this design source book contains a wonderful selection of new illustrations inspired by the traditional art and crafts of the Aboriginal people. Illustrations can be combined with other images, or enlarged and used as the main theme for special projects, whether they are stitched designs, cards, journals, collages, mixed media or ceramic pieces, pictures, panels or paintings. These pages offer many ideas so if you thinking of new projects and you need a starting point, look no further. This wonderful source book will fire your imagination and give you all the help you need to create stunning, original works of art.