NIRIN at Home: Homemade Watercolour Paints

Iltja Ntjarra / Many Hands Art Centre is proudly Aboriginal owned and directed. It is the home of the Namatjira watercolour artists. The Art Centre was established by Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation and started operating in 2004, as a not-for-profit Art Centre to provide a place for Arrernte Artists to come together to paint, share and learn new techniques and ideas. The Art Centre is strongly committed to improving economic participation of Aboriginal people and maintaining cultural heritage.

Iltja Ntjarra has a special focus on supporting the ‘Hermannsburg School’ style watercolour artists, who continue to paint in the tradition of their grandfather and relative, Albert Namatjira, arguably one of Australia’s most famous artists of the 20th century. Albert Namatjira taught his children to follow in his unique style, who have since passed this knowledge on to their children, which has resonated in a legacy of watercolour artists in the Central Desert region. By continuing his legacy, these artists sustain an important piece of living history.

Brightly coloured fruits, vegetables and/or spices (we recommend beetroot, blueberries, strawberries, turmeric, paprika)
Water
Saucepan
Salt
White vinegar

1. Gather your fruits, vegetables and/or spices.
2. Add one cup of water to a saucepan. You'll need to boil your ingredients separately to avoid mixing the colours.
3. Add one fruit/vegetable/spice to the saucepan. Note: the more you add to the water, the darker the colour will be!
4. Add a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of white vinegar to the saucepan.
5. Bring the mixture to the boil, then switch off the heat.
6. Leave the mixture to cool completely. Then strain the vegetables from the water.
7. Use the coloured water to paint.

We’d love to see how you use these resources at home. Post your stories and photos with the hashtag #NIRINatHome.