Mitch Trail

vidence suggests that humans first arrived in Australia approximately 60,000 years ago. These people are purported to have traveled from south-east Asia across the land bridges to northern Australia. Archaeologists have now discovered early occupation sites at the three most probable entry areas - the Kimberley, Arnhem Land and Cape York Peninsula.

The first Australian Used caves for shelter and as it turns out entertainment. The Caves provided some great tools for budding Aboriginal artist with ash, stones, ochre and wood. All items early man used to express them selves. While the floors of these shelters were covered with daily life the walls told stories of this life. But it was these items that provided the implements needed to make art.

With these rock paintings which were the original Aboriginal Art scientist have proven the date on these paintings with carbon dating of the pigment. Also many items around the cave had a story emblazoned on them with easy to find painting products. Many of these paintings have even been tested using that latest most up to date testing methods.

Radiocarbon dating is limited to a maximum age of around 40 000 years, and the newer techniques are required for dating of older materials. AMS is a new radiocarbon dating method enabling the dating of much smaller samples of carbon than the traditional radiocarbon (C-14) method.

Ochre is the main pigment used in rock art and is found across most of Australia. Pieces of ochre, have been found in almost all of Australia’s ice-age sites. Most have been radiocarbon dated and the dates range from 10 000 to 40 000 years. Proving that Aboriginal Art can trace its beginnings back to the stone age. But it hasn’t remained there. Aboriginal Art now encompasses the use acrylics, canvas, glass, and ceramic tiles as well as ochres, bark and wood.

Because of the difficulty in presenting art in caves to a wider audience it was only a matter of time before art moved onto canvas and tiles. With the early artist creating a dedicated following many of their paintings and carvings have appreciated phenomenally , some showing unprecedented growth.

If you are looking for a way to get into the art market there are some great new artist that have not been discovered yet these artist are like finding diamonds in the rough. By getting in early you can make a strategic investment and hold on for your potential artist to become more famous.

Even if you spread your purchases over a couple of artist and spread your luck you could still have a chance of making a $300 dollar painting into a $50000 dollar investment as has happened wit a couple of artist and investors. I suppose you could say it’s all about luck but I think its quality choose paintings you like and you cant go wrong.