Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which materials are commonly used in folk art?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Folk art
Rooster weather vane, sheet and wrought iron, American, 19th century; in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. 73.6 × 166.4 × 4.5 cm.
Folk art is characterized by a remarkable freedom in the choice of materials, often utilizing whatever natural substances are readily available in a given region. Because folk artists frequently work outside the constraints of "sophisticated" art traditions, they often employ materials that are otherwise uncommon in formal artistic practice.12
Commonly used materials include:
- Natural substances: Wood, straw, hide, horn, bamboo, and palm leaf are frequently used.12
- Manufactured products: Paper is a particularly common and versatile medium, often used for cut-paper designs or ephemeral objects.1
- Found objects: Folk art often incorporates a wide variety of "found objects," including seeds, amulets, hair, and even food items like festival breads.23
- Metals: Cut tin is a frequent medium, often decorated by hand painting or pricking.1
- Textiles: Embroidery and needlework, such as crewel, are significant, often rivaling professional craftsmanship.14
These materials are frequently combined in creative ways, predating modern techniques like collage and assemblage. Ultimately, the choice of material is often dictated by local availability and the functional requirements of the object being created.213