How to Make Navajo Sand Art
Navajo sand art, also called Navajo sand paintings, are based on the temporary sand paintings created during traditional, sacred ceremonies. During these rituals, a Medicine Man “paints” a design using crushed flowers, crushed stone and other natural materials, then destroys the design at the end of the ceremony. Because the Navajo believe it is sacrilegious for anyone to view these designs outside of a healing ceremony, the sand paintings sold as artwork use different colors and symbols to make them meaningless. Your design can be based on Native American symbols or anything else you’d like to “paint,” such as a landscape. You might want to work outside or on a tarp for easy cleanup.
Things You'll Need
- Plywood or particleboard
- Pencil
- Sand (you can use either commercially colored sand or beach sand)
- Small containers for your sand “paints” (plastic cups, yogurt cups, even an egg carton)
- Small paintbrush
- Household glue thinned with water
- Plastic spoons (optional)
- Artist’s fixative
Instructions
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Imagine and draw your design. Unlike the ritual sand paintings, which are quite large, the ones sold as artwork tend to be about six or eight feet square. Others can be smaller. Sketch your design onto the plywood or particleboard. Some sand paintings use a design that radiates from the center of the “canvas.” Others can be landscapes.
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Choose your colors and prepare your sand paints. Lee Anderson, a specialist in Native American art, says that many commercial artists use colored sand or finely crushed rock for certain pigments. However, you can dye beach sand to the colors you like using powdered tempera paint, according to KinderArt.com. Place the sand in one of your containers and add only a small bit of the powdered paint at a time until you reach the hue you want.
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3
Using a small paintbrush, add a thin layer of household glue thinned with water to a corner of your design. This base dries quickly, which is why it’s important to work in small sections. Then add the colored sand to that part of your design. You can sprinkle the sand by scooping up small dollops with plastic spoons, or take the sand into the palm of your hand and let it trickle off your fingers. Tilt your canvas to shake off the excess sand. If the color or design is not the density you want, wait for the glue to dry, then apply another thin layer to that section and repeat adding the sand.
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Repeat Step 3 throughout the rest of your design. Once the entire design is complete, let it dry overnight and seal it with artist’s fixative.
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Tips & Warnings
Applying the glue base and the sand in a uniform manner is tricky. Anderson says too much glue or the sand makes the painting appear uneven. You might want to practice on paper first. Consider adding a border, such as a rainbow, to your design. Anderson says many sand paintings use a protective design to keep away evil.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit monument valley navajo tribal park image by Gary from Fotolia.com
