Rainbow Serpent Art
Rainbow Serpent as a guardian spirit of water is shown in many forms in Aboriginal art. His role is to protect the water sites and he has great powers.
 Bruce Nabegeyo | Rainbow SerpentSold |  Edward Blitner | Brolgas and Rainbow SerpentSold |  Jimmy Pike | Jila JapingkaSold |  Edward Blitner | Mimi and Rainbow SerpentsSold |  Edward Blitner | Rainbow SerpentSold |  Edward Blitner | Mimi Spirits DancingSold |  Edward Blitner | Yingana and NgalyodSold |  Jimmy Pike | KalpurtuSold |  Edward Blitner | Yingana and NgalyodSold |  Edward Blitner | Ngalyod – Rainbow SerpentSold |  Edward Blitner | Rainbow Serpent and MimisSold |  Simon Badari | Rainbow Serpent NgalyodSold |  Fabrianne Peterson Nampitjinpa | Wanampi – Water SerpentSold |
The Rainbow Serpent in Aboriginal culture is a Dreamtime or Creation spirit associated with water. It travels between waterholes and can move inside rain clouds.
The Rainbow Serpent is sometimes called the Water Snake, and is guardian of important water sites.
People treat him with great respect as his powers are considerable. He is able to call up great storms with thunder and lightning, flooding rain, driving winds and hail.
The Rainbow Serpent is represented in many different forms by artists in different Aboriginal communities. Sometimes in the desert he looks like a snake with rainbow tones on his back, living underneath the waterholes. In Arnhem Land he can look more like a cross between a crocodile and snake, with patterns related to clan designs.
By talking to the Rainbow Serpent, people approaching a waterhole can let him know they are friendly and that they bring no harm. The links between water and the people and the guardian spirit ensures that these important sites are conserved and protected.
More animal art:
Artists who paint Rainbow Snake: