The tradition of Indian folk art painting is as old as its trees, rivers, hills and humans. Since ancient time, people or common ‘folk’ have expressed themselves through the medium of painting. Images have been sketched on pots and pans, on walls of village houses, on dried leaves and later on clothes and paper. Executed in almost all possible ways, painting has been an integral part of Indian civilization. Evolving out of the cave paintings of prehistoric period, folk painting continues to be a living tradition.
Guided by no formal school, bound by no orthodox technique, folk painting grew out of life and is sustained by life. Religious rituals, domestic beautification, familial celebrations, seasonal festivals are some of the inspirations behind the rise and growth of folk paintings in India. Gods and Goddesses, mythical figures, legendary heroes and glimpses of a common man’s life are the principal themes of folk paintings. Earthen colors were used in traditional folk paintings though currently synthetic colors are also in use. Usually the finery of folk painting is passed from one generation to the other. People belonging to a particular community assimilate the aesthetic and symbolic essence consciously or at times unconsciously by simply living in the environment where the art is practiced.