The tribal folk did not use fancy art products or supplies. Their canvas was the inside walls of huts, made of cow dung, branches and earth. This explains the red ochre background of their ritual paintings.

They only used white pigment, a mixture of rice paste, water and gum, which acts as the binding agent. Their brush was a bamboo stick chewed at the end to make it flexible as a paintbrush.

During ritualistic celebrations like harvests or weddings, the tribal women would paint basic images. It was only in the 1970s that notable artist and Padmashri recipient Jivya Soma Mashe and his sons started creating Warli paintings purely for artistic reasons.

Mashe popularised the Warli art form by holding exhibitions from 1975 onward. In 2010, Warli art made its way to popular imagination after being featured in a Diwali ad campaign by Coca-Cola, which included animated motifs of Warli art. Today, Warli art is registered under the Intellectual Property Rights act, and the non-profit Warli Art Foundation established by the tribe continues to propagate this art form. 

Life imitates art, and since its inclusion in pop culture, Warli art has gained much popularity. Today, people incorporate this simplistic art form in their lives in multiple ways – here are a few you can do the same:

·      Wall prints and murals – Made with basic colours like brown and white, Warli wall art compliments almost all wall colours and décor themes.

·      Modular kitchen – A unique way to give your kitchen an Indian twist is with Sleek’s Artize modular kitchen systems, which feature exquisite laser-cut patterns of Indian Warli art.

·      Coasters – You can undertake a fun DIY project and paint blank coasters with simple Warli patterns.

·      Lampshades – Another potential DIY project, all you need is a solid-coloured lampshade, acrylic paints, and a brush to create a unique decorative item for your home.

·      Clothing and bags – Sarees, dress materials, kurtas, tote bags, clutches, etc., depicting Warli prints are the perfect addition to your wardrobe.

·      Rugs – Floor rugs and runners with this iconic print can be the perfect conversation starters.

·      Clocks – Mimicking a painted wall, rectangular or square clocks with Warli design compliment traditional and contemporary home décor.

Add a touch of unmatched artistic sophistication to your home by using the indigenous art form of Warli to beautify it.