Historically and through today, sandpainting ceremonies have been/are conducted by Navajo Medicine men. Despite their use for centuries the images themselves were not reproduced outside of the ceremonies until the early 1900ís when sandpainting designs were occasionally being depicted in rugs, and had begun to be catalogued by ethnographers. Within the last fifty years, a technique was developed for making permanent sandpaintings as an art form on particle board. By applying the sand onto thin layers of glue and coating the finished piece with a clear coat of acrylic a degree of permanence is attained. This technique has enabled sandpaintings to become commercially available, and many Navajo artists excel at this uniquely Navajo form of expression. Traditional designs are reproduced with slight modifications (since the actual complete designs can only be used in the appropriate religious setting) and single elements of these designs are popular subjects for smaller pieces. Nontraditional themes have also become more prevalent, including landscapes, dancers, and still life images.

At The Indian Craft Shop there is a wide array of sandpaintings, many framed and matted, as well as wooden boxes with decorative sandpainting lids. Prices on sandpaintings can range from $5.00 to over $1000. Please contact the shop for descriptions and its current selection. For further reading on sandpainting, please see our ìPublicationî section of available books.