The name Kalamkari literally means art work using a pen. The name Kalamkari is derived from two words i.e. 'Kalam' meaning pen and 'Kari' meaning work. This art work or painting is done on cloth and it flourished in India throughout the Deccan plateau between the 13th and 19th centuries due to extensive textile trading that was prevalent along the Coromandel coast. Sri Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh in South and Ahmedadbad in Gujarat are regions where Kalamkari paintings are popular. Kalamkari is a method of paintings natural dyes onto cotton or silk fabric. Paintings is done with a bamboo stick cut and pointed. The figures with rounded shapes and border designs are typical of Kalamkari.

Episodes from the Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Shiv Purana and other mythological stories are potrayed in the paintings. Gods such as Krishna, Brahma, Ganesha, Durga were the subjects upon which these paintings were based.