Madhubani art, also known as Mithila painting, originated in the Mithila region of Bihar. Traditionally created by women on the freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts during festivals and ceremonies, this style is characterized by eye-catching geometrical patterns. Artisans use natural dyes and pigments applied with twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks to depict nature, everyday life, and mythological themes without leaving any blank space on the canvas.

Hailing from the North Sahyadri Range in Maharashtra, Warli is a centuries-old tribal folk art form. Unlike many traditional art styles, Warli relies on simple geometric shapes—circles, triangles, and squares—to construct figures and scenes. Painted predominantly on mud walls using a paste of rice flour and water mixed with gum, these artworks focus on social life, tribal community dances, hunting scenes, and harmony with nature rather than religious iconography.

Pattachitra is a traditional cloth-based scroll painting form deeply rooted in the culture of Odisha and West Bengal. The name derives from the Sanskrit words patta (canvas/cloth) and chitra (picture). Known for its intricate details, bold lines, and rich natural colors, Pattachitra traditionally illustrates religious stories, folk tales, and scenes from ancient epics, with the Jagannath cult being a central theme in Odia traditions.

Originating in the town of Thanjavur (Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu during the 16th century under the Chola empire and later refined under Maratha rulers, Tanjore painting is famous for its rich color palette, compact composition, and metallic brilliance. The art form is distinguished by the use of gold foil inlays, precious glass beads, and semi-precious stones layered over relief work, primarily depicting Hindu deities in ornate architectural frames.

Practiced by the Gond tribe—one of India's largest indigenous communities concentrated in Madhya Pradesh—Gond art is rooted in the belief that viewing good images brings good luck. Artists use dots and fine lines to create textures and fill in vibrant colors, capturing wildlife, flora, sacred trees, and tribal folklore. Originally created on the walls of traditional homes, Gond art has transitioned successfully onto paper and canvas today.

Phad is a scroll painting style originating from Rajasthan, historically used as a mobile narrative cloth backdrop by folk bards (known as Bhopas) who traveled villages performing heroic sagas. Traditionally executed on long cotton scrolls using vegetable colors, these large-scale compositions depict the adventures of local deities like Pabuji and Devnarayan, detailing elaborate battle scenes, processions, and village life.

A stylized version of Nakashi art native to Telangana, Cheriyal scroll paintings are multi-paneled narratives executed on long cloth canvases up to several meters long. Prepared using a paste of khadi cloth, mud, and gum, these colorful scrolls rely on bright primary colors—especially a rich red background—and function as visual aids for storytellers narrating tales from the Puranas and Indian epics.

Miniature painting gained prominence under the Mughal Empire and Rajasthan's royal courts between the 16th and 19th centuries. Known for its delicate brushwork and intense precision, artists traditionally used hair from squirrels' tails to craft extremely fine detail. These paintings are created on handmade paper, ivory, or silk, capturing historical events, court life, hunting expeditions, and romantic legends using pigments derived from minerals, gold, and silver.

Pithora is a ritualistic art form practiced by the Rathwa, Bhil, and Bhilala tribes residing near the border regions of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Unlike purely decorative arts, creating a Pithora painting on a household wall is performed as an offering to God Pithora to bring prosperity or express gratitude. The paintings feature colorful horses, wild animals, daily chores, and sacred symbols painted within an enclosed frame.

Emerging in 19th-century Kolkata near the famous Kalighat Kali Temple, this style developed as a fast-paced folk art form catering to pilgrims and urban patrons. Artisans used bold, sweeping brushstrokes, simple watercolor washes, and shaded contours on cheap paper to produce flat, expressive figures. Kalighat paintings evolved from depicting exclusively religious figures to offering satirical commentary on contemporary urban life and colonial society.