How did Decorative Painting originate?

The decorative painting of today has its origins in the traditional or rustic art of the past, also known as "folk art". Literally translated, "folk art" is "art of the people" and refers to the type of painting done in various countries of the world by self-taught people. They were not professional artists - they were common folk. They were artisans who decorated their furniture, household objects, doors and even walls of their homes using very basic equipment such as a brush they made themselves using squirrel hair and primary colours they made using natural pigments.

Folk art started out as a very simple form of decoration where much of the painting was done using a round brush. Flowers were the most frequently used motif.

Almost all countries have some kind of traditional folk art associated with their culture and many are hundreds of years old. Through travel and migration, they have spread from one region of the world to another. Furniture painting, for example, originated in the Orient and found its way to Europe, and German, Swiss and French immigrants brought their art to America in the 17th century.

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The Art of Decorative Painting
Traditional Folk Art
Contemporary Techniques
Faux Finishes

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These vibrant handpainted porcelain tile and jar from the Orient serve as inspiration and a reminder of the richness of the traditions of the past.

Decorative Painting today

Today's decorative artists learn and apply various styles of folk art to their decorative painting. It is a limitless and boundless pursuit. In addition to tole painting and the folk art styles of many countries such as Germany, Russia, Norway, Sweden, England, Mexico and early American country painting, decorative artists of the 21st century are adept at rediscovering various other forms of decorative art associated with countries like Turkey, Japan, China, Indonesia, among others and adapting them to 3-dimensional surfaces.

Many contemporary decorative artists specialise in one or a few folk art styles and others have adapted traditional techniques or developed their own styles and techniques to create a new heritage of decorative art.

This elaborate bridal pillow or "bantal" from the Far East is not painted but handtooled on gold. Decorative artists today may look at something like this from the past and paint the design on wood to create a treasured heirloom.