Workshop on rocks painting

After presentation of ” Natal Reciclado” – recycling project on Christmas topic in the Municipal library of Camara de Lobos, the idea to give workshop on rocks painting for kids during X-mas holidays came to our mind…

Painting on the rocks is very interesting and exciting technique. For making it you don’t need much- materials are stones, which people, living close to the ocean, can find easily on the beach, paints and brushes. At the same time it’s nice opportunity to develop your artistic skills and be creative.

While preparing the presentation I started thinking about the history and roots of drawing on the rocks. The conclusion was somehow unexpected even for me, because I haven’t thought and haven’t realized that what we see now as nice activity for children or decoration for gardens and houses, in fact is far-back and, probably, first evidence of primitive men’s artistic skills…

So, stone painting is a unique and the oldest form of art used by humankind and pre-humankind. In archaeology, rock art is human-made markings placed on natural stone. A global phenomenon, rock art is found in many culturally diverse regions of the world. It has been produced in many contexts throughout human history, although the majority of rock art that has been ethnographically recorded has been produced as a part of ritual. The oldest known rock art dates from the Upper Paleolithic period, having been found in Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. Ancient people were usually drawing the things from their surrounding, such as animals from the region, process of hunting and their daily life…

Consequently, our ancestors were paining on the rocks and cliffs, now the techniques are different and we use it for decoration purpose. Stones are painted with acrylic and transformed into beautiful subjects such as pets, insects, wildlife or thematic pictures. Turning ordinary rocks into lifelike looking animals or characters is something truly magical and exciting.