1. Folk Art
Painting

2. What is folk art?
Art produced from native tribes, peasants, and workers
Decorative and utilitarian
Does not follow the rules of art
Culture specific
Encompasses a large variety of art specifically ones produced from indigenous tribes, peasants, and other tradespeople
Its more of a style, and it can be found in paintings, sculpture, ceramics
Its different from fine art in that folk art is purely utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic
It is characterized by its naïve or childlike style in which it does not follow the rule of proportion and perspective
Folk art is specific to its culture.
Because of this folk art is difficult to describe as a whole.

3. Characteristics of Folk Art
Is not influenced by both academic and fine art
Does not include the work of professional artists
Naïve art, tribal, primitive, popular, outsider, traditional, tramp, and working class
Cultural identity and community values
Taught from informal settings
Simple, Direct. Colorful.
Folk art is not influenced by any movements in both academic and fine art circles
Folk art often times excludes the work of professional artists but is sometimes still sold as high art or fine art
Folk art can even be termed with naïve art, tribal art, primitive art, popular art, outsider art, traditional art, tramp art, and working class art.
Tramp art= “a wanderers art” usually coined as hobby art.
Because all these different terms are used to label different forms, it is simply put under the umbrella term folk art
What makes folk art unique is that it expresses cultural identiy by conveying the messages of community values
It can use a multitude of materials including cloth, wood, paper, clay, metal, and more!if tranditional materials are note available, folk artists will use what is available which results in a more contemporary art form feel
It reflects traditional artforms of diverse community groups (ethinic, tribal, religious, occupationals, geographical, age or gender.)
Folk artsts usually learn their skill and technique from informal community settings
Folk art is simple. Direct. And always colorful.

4. Antique Folk Art Collected based on merit
Not meant to be” arts for arts sake”
Signs, carvings, portraits, game boards, etc
Is distinguished from traditional art in that it is collected based mostly on artistic merit
It was never meant to be “art for arts sake” when it was created
These include weather vanes, stone signs, carved figures, itinerant portraits, carousel horses, fire buckets, gameboards, and other whimsical things.

5. Contemporary Folk Art & its influence
Quilting, ornamental framing, decoy carving
Often self taught
Elito Circa
Influenced mainstream art
Picasso- African tribes
Goncharova- Russian Prints
Stravinsky- pagan rituals
Includes traditional practices such as quilting, ornamental picture framing, and decoy carving
However, contemporary folk artists are frequently self taught, their work is often developed in isolation or in small communities
Folk art influenced mainstream art with its unique styles and motifs. Folk art inspired Pablo Picasso (African tribal sculpture and masks), Natalia Goncharova was inspired by Russian popular prints called Iubok. And in music igor stravinskys seminal “the rite of spring” was inspired by pagan religious rituals.
A famous artist is Elito Circa who is internationally recognized for his folk art. JE developed his own style without professional training or guidance

6. Some Examples of Folk Art