Are you looking for a great rustic decorating idea? Try using painted drums, made by Native American Indians, to give your home true, southwestern style. I was recently looking for a good way to redecorate my guest room and give it a rustic, western flare, and started buying wonderful southwestern accessories for rustic home decor.

I ended up buying two beautiful painted drums that incorporated the perfect rustic look in my home and gave it the rustic feel that I was searching for. The thing I love most about these painted drums is how they show a true reflection of Indigenous life and work through the paintings.

Perhaps you are like me and truly admire the authentic creativity of beautiful Native American art. As you research the origin of these paintings you will be amazed at how the artistic spirit of the American Indians is portrayed in the painted drum. The beautiful hand painted drum heads serve as story book for the expressions and motives of Native life.

Because the Native American drum artists find their inspiration through the work of their ancestors, owning one of these Native drums allows you the unique privilege of being part of many generations of Native American artists. Each new line of Native drum painters creates their work, mingled with the past, to bring forth a truly unique handcrafted piece.

As you learn about the history of painted drums, you will see that animal drums have always been the predominant Native American musical instruments of choice and hold a special significance to these Indian people.

The medium, with which they work with, is different among drum painters and is a matter of personal preference. Some Native American artists still use hand ground natural dyes, though paint has also become an acceptable medium as traditional drums make room for modern expressions of culture and creativity.

Just like the variations of mediums used to paint the drums, you will also see that drumming traditions differ between tribes. Some tribes play large drums while gathered in a circle around it, while the drums of other tribes are unique and personally decorated by the drummer.

Now days it is very rare to find true ceremonial drums, but the Indian hand drums of the Tarahumara Indians are among the most authentic Native drums suitable for using in drumming circles or for southwestern home decorating.

Drum painting is definitely a unique art and an important part of the rich heritage of the Indian people. The painted drum has come to signify both the drummer and the tribe, as well as preserve the American Indian culture through drawings of nature and legend.

If you are drawn to the authenticity and values of the American Indians, you will certainly enjoy adding rustic style to your home decor. You can easily find these beautiful drums online or in stores that sell rustic and western home decor, and bring American Indian culture to life in your home with the exquisite art of painted drums.