paintbrush-aboriginal handmade traditional

by Melissa
(Nhulunbuy, Australia)

I don't work with acrylics, but am planning to (I use oils) but I also live around the Aboriginies up the top end of Australia.

Their art work is quite unique in style and application and you can see some examples on the net under Yolngu Art or East Arnhem Art or Gaylie Marika.

Perhaps you may like to try their traditionally made paintbrushes. Human hair. Different hair has different effects of course.

The Yolngu style, with the lines, requires straight soft hair, best obtained from your fringe or children. They do have the hair longer in length than the ordinary paintbrush,ie from the tip of your thumb to the knuckle. You can experiment with the rest.

Note from Bob:
This sounds interesting Melissa. If you're able to add some description of how it's made, we'd love to see it. Unfortunately, if I used what hair I have, it wouldn't make a very big brush....