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In our digital life these days, it is easy to get lost in a world of endless scrolling. How about you take a break from it and get inspired to create art that stays with you much longer than a 30-second reel. If you really want to learn Indian art and this sounds appealing to you, Warli art is the perfect way to get started. With a minimalistic approach and easy, repetitive patterns, not only is Warli a therapeutic style of art, but the stories, legends, and facts about Warli art and the Warli community will inspire you to pick up a brush and paint your canvas with art!
Let us take you back in time to around 2500 B.C., to the home of the Warli tribe, a tiny rural area near the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Their background was not canvas nor paper, but the mud walls of their tribal huts. The paint they used was just rice flour mixed with water and glue to form a paste, which was used as colour, and brushes were bamboo or wooden sticks. It was with these humble and innovative tools that the Warli tribe developed Warli art. An art form that speaks about community and the intrinsic elements of the day-to-day life of the Warli tribe! Their life revolved around nature, and farming was their major source of living. This was also reflected in their paintings, which included daily scenes like farming, cooking, dancing, hunting, fishing, festivals, marriages, etc. All these things were a testament to a community that thrived with simplicity and in harmony with nature.
The beauty of this art form lies in expressing it with the most minimalistic expressions. Imagine drawing scenes of their dancing style - the famous Tarpa dance, children playing under the trees, people doing farming, etc. All these are illustrated using just the basic geometric shapes like circles, squares, triangles, and lines. The repetitive pattern and simplicity of the designs are just perfect for someone who wants to get started with their art journey.
The symbols in Warli art are simple shapes and designs, and each shape stands for something. Like a circle represents the sun and moon, triangles represent trees and mountains. The square symbol is an important one, too. It stands for ‘Warla’, meaning a 'piece of land', which is where the word Warli is derived. Humans are represented by two inverse triangles joined at their tips. Lines are used for arms and legs. Hair buns are drawn to signify women.
These Warli motifs and geometric patterns define their aesthetics, bringing their life and lifestyle to a canvas. Nature is an essential element in all their paintings.. From the sun and moon, to the birds and animals, rivers and farms – all show how deeply this tribe is connected to nature. Warli paintings also feature beliefs, rituals, and traditions of the tribe. You will often find dancers moving in circles, farmers farming on their farms, and women drawing water from the wells. These stories bring their art to life and remind us of the joy in art, community, shared experiences and simplicity.
One of our artists once painted her morning routine: sipping tea and watering plants on her balcony. It was simple, but so heartfelt. That's what Warli does—it connects us to the rhythm of life.
So the next time you find yourself endlessly scrolling, think of this beautiful art form waiting to be explored. Pick up a brush, draw a triangle, a circle, a square—and try to portray your own story in it.
If you are someone who wants to learn Warli art from an expert, Rooftop can make it possible for you. Learners from all walks of life, students, homemakers, working professionals, and retirees can add some Warli magic to their lives with us! Sign up for a Warli art course by the Mhase brothers who don't just teach you the techniques to learn Warli art, but also about their folk stories, the myths and rituals that inspired them. These stories give you a cultural experience beyond just the brush strokes. You can also learn Warli art with our series of Artventure books, available in 3 different grades for all skill levels. Pick up the Essentials, Elementary and Expert variants to get a step-by-step understanding of all you need to learn and love Warli art at your own pace.
