Indian Folk Art

1.

Pattachitra paintings
Pattachitra or Patachitra is a general term for traditional cloth based scroll painting,
based in the easternIndian states of Odisha and West Bengal. Pattachitra artform is
known for its intricate details as well as mythological narratives and folktales inscribed
in it. Pattachitra is one of the ancient artworks of Odisha. Pattachitras are a component
of an ancient Bengali narrative art, originally serving as a visual device during the
performance of a song.

2. Warli paintings
Warli painting is a style of tribal art mostly created by the tribal people from the
North Sahyadri Range in Maharashtra, India. This range encompasses cities such
as Dahanu, Talasari, Jawhar, Palghar,
Mokhada and Vikramgad of Palghar district. This tribal art was originated
inMaharashtra, where it is still practiced today.The Warli culture is centered on the
concept of Mother Nature and elements of nature are often focal points depicted in Warli
painting. Farming is their main way of life and a large source of food for the tribe. They
greatly respect nature and wildlife for the resources that they provide for life. Warli artists
use their clay huts as the backdrop for their paintings, similar to how ancient people
used cave walls as their canvases.
3. Madhubani paintings
Madhubani art (or Mithila painting) is a style of Indian painting, practiced in the Mithila
region of the Indian subcontinent (Bihar). This painting is done with a variety of tools,
including fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks and using natural dyes and
pigments. It is characterised by its eye-catching geometrical patterns. There is ritual
content for particular occasions, such as birth or marriage, and festivals, such as Holi,
Surya Shasti, Kali Puja, Upanayana, and Durga Puja.

4. Mysore Paintings
Mysore painting is an important form of classical South Indian painting that originated
in and around the town of Mysore in Karnataka encouraged and nurtured by the Mysore
rulers. Painting in Karnataka has a long and illustrious history, tracing its origins back to
the Ajanta times (2nd century B.C. to 7th century A.D.) Mysore paintings are known for
their elegance, muted colours, and attention to detail. The themes for most of these
paintings are Hindu gods and goddesses and scenes from Hindu mythology.
5. Tanjore Art
Thanjavur painting is a classical South Indian painting style, which
was inaugurated from the town of Thanjavur (Tanjore). The art form draws its immediate
resources and inspiration from way back about 1600 AD, a period when the Nayakas of
Thanjavur under the suzerainty of the Vijayanagara Rayas encouraged art—chiefly,
classical dance and music—as well as literature, both in Telugu and Tamil and painting
of chiefly Hindu religious subjects in temples. It is distinguished by its famous gold
coating. Thanjavur paintings are characterised by rich and vivid colors, simple iconic
composition, glittering gold foils overlaid on delicate but extensive gesso work and inlay
of glass beads and pieces or very rarely precious and semi-precious gems.
6. Pithora Art
Pithora is a ritualistic painting done on the walls by the Rathwa and Bhilala tribes who
live in central Gujarat. Pithora paintings are executed on three inner walls of their houses
which bring peace, prosperity and happiness. Pithora paintings are more of a ritual than
an art form. These rituals are performed either to thank God or for a wish or a boon to
be granted. These walls are treated with two layers of cow dung paste and one layer of
white chalk powder. Unmarried girls bring in these materials. This procedure is called
Lipna.
7. Rajasthani Miniature Paintings
The art of Miniature painting was introduced to the land of India by the Mughals, who
brought the much-revealed art form from Persia. In the sixteenth century, the Mughal
ruler Humayun brought artists from Persia, who specialized in miniature painting. These
paintings are done with utmost care and in minute details, with strong lines and bold
colours set in harmonious patterns. The miniature artists use paper, ivory panels,
wooden tablets, leather, marble, cloth and walls for their paintings. The particular
miniature produced by Indian artists in their own style is known as Rajput or Rajasthani
miniature.
The Kishangarh province in Rajasthan is known for its Bani Thani paintings. It is a totally
different style with highly exaggerated features like long necks, large, almond shaped
eyes, and long fingers. This style of painting essentially depicts Radha and Krishna as
divine lovers, and beautifully portrays their mystical love. Kishangarh miniature painting
reached a peak in the eighteenth century, during the rule of Raja Sawant Singh, who fell
in love with a slave girl, Bani Thani and commanded his artists to portray himself and
her as Krishna and Radha. Other themes of Bani Thani paintings include portraits, court
scenes, dancing, hunting, music parties, nauka vihar (lovers travelling in a
boat), Krishna Lila, Bhagavata Purana and various other festivals like Holi, Diwali,
Durga puja, and Dussehra.
8. Gond Art
Gond paintings are a form of painting from folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of
the largest tribes in India with whom it shares its name. Gond comes from the Dravidian
expression, Kondwhich means ‘the green mountain’. While Gond paintings are
considered to be from predominantly from Madhya Pradesh, it is also quite common in
Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh and Odisha. Painting in the region has been
happening for a really long time as the history of the Gond people dates nearly 1400
years previously. The Gond people have a belief that viewing a good image begets good
luck. Gond paintings have also been used by the Gond people as a way to record their
history.
9. Kalamezhuthu
Kalamezhuthu is an ancient art woven into the ritualistic mores of Bhagavati, Naga and
Ayyappa temples in Kerala. It refers to the pictorial representation of deities on the floor
(kalam) using coloured powders (kolappodi) during ceremonies. When combined with
the singing of specific songs (kalampaattu) and dance movements related to the puja
(kalapradakshinam), it becomes a ritualistic performance known as ‘kalamezhuthum
paattum’ or ‘kalamezhuthupaattu.

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