Art painting in Russia is the bearer of the original traditions of the country's people and part of its decorative and applied arts. She connects the previous generations of Russian masters with the current. At first, having arisen as an integral part of some subsistence farms, decorative painting then grew into whole crafts of the peoples, becoming a source of goods not only for the domestic but also for foreign markets.
Only some craftsmen and their families ceased to engage in these crafts, the occupation covered entire villages and localities, and thanks to them these types of murals got their names.
Types of painting
What types of folk painting can an average resident name? Almost everyone will remember Khokhloma. Of course, it is brighter than the others, and it is more common, which is why it is more deeply remembered.
But that is far from all. Russian culture is famous for its wealth. Therefore, one should know and love these gifts of the national treasury.
Khokhloma painting
Time is passing, and the crafts based on it are also improving. In the modern world, they have long been elevated to the rank of real art. Khokhloma stands out and is considered one of the most perfect folk patterns for a reason, because the intricacies of its interweaving are known and loved throughout the planet Earth.
The origins of Khokhloma fishing
Khokhloma originates from Veliky Novgorod. There is a separate legend on this subject. Allegedly, in the Nizhny Novgorod territories, there lived such a craftsman that all his dishes seemed to be painted in gold - so the patterns shone on it. The craftsman quickly became famous throughout his district, and soon the tsar himself knew about it. The governor was very angry with the fact that such an incredible master did not serve at his court. Then he sent servants to the woods to look for a craftsman. They looked for him, searched, but to no avail. And the thing is that the master miraculously found out in advance that he was being sought by the minions of the king, and hid in an unknown direction once and for all. But before disappearing, he managed to teach his art to the simple artisans of the area.
But according to science, it turns out that in the Volga region this special skill came along with schismatics who fled from oppression. Among the fugitives there were a lot of artists and icon painters of rare talents. So, for their folk style, the artisans of the Volga region should thank them. And all this beauty was sold primarily in a village called Khokhloma. Hence, it was customary to call these beautiful ornaments Khokhloma.
Distinctive features of Khokhloma
The main elements of Khokhloma painting are the following:
- the most popular is the combination of red and gold;
- the use of only two or three juicy shades;
- the artistry of the picture: there are always many small details in the Khokhloma pattern;
- lines and shapes are always smooth, there is no strict geometry;
- work is always done only manually;
- brightness of patterns and clarity of accents;
- in its classic form, Khokhloma painting is done on wood.
History of Gorodets craft
Also on the left bank of the Volga, not far from the wonderful masters of Khokhloma, Gorodets was located. This is one of the most ancient fortified cities of Russia and the birthplace of many diverse crafts. The painting, which originated there in the mid-nineteenth century, was called Gorodets. Then the spinning wheel seats, called the base, ceased to inlaid and began to paint.
Differences Gorodets painting
The dominant colors in Gorodets folk painting are cinnabar and yellow chrome. These two colors are used to create the background of the entire painting, and green, blue, and, more rarely, blue and pink - for the pattern. White and black bring out the details. This type of art was related with the elements of Khokhloma painting, conciseness and brightness of images. Animal figures, flowers, and genre scenes were done in free strokes, which were outlined in black and white. The painting adorned furniture, doors, shutters and spinning wheels.
The most common motifs here are: flowers (usually these are kupavs characterized by the symmetry of leaves, and roses) and animals such as birds and horses.
Compositionally, Gorodets painting is divided into:
- flower painting:
- flower painting with animals;
- plot painting.
In fact, this division is rather arbitrary, since even the plot list still includes patterns with flowers.
The origin of the Gzhel industry
Gzhel painting is older; its history begins as early as the fourteenth century. For the first time, the village of Gzhel and the parish of the same name were mentioned by Ivan Kalita in one of his spiritual letters in 1339, and after a very short time the village of Gzhel was mentioned by almost all the great princes. It is believed that this name came from the old Russian "jelly", which literally can be translated as "burn clay." According to scientists, there is a direct connection between the name of the village and the pottery, since the name could not appear from scratch, which means that there was also a craft.
What characterizes gzhel?
This is an underglaze type of mural. This means that initially the product is fired, immediately after it is painted, and only then it is dipped into the icing and sent to the oven for re-firing (which causes the paint to change color and the frosting will become transparent). Traditionally, Gzhel drawings are folklore paintings: berries, leaves, bouquets, cereals, flower garlands, twigs. The flowers look like lilies, poppies, daisies, peonies, carnations, roses and asters, but their shape is completely arbitrary, in fact it’s just plant ornaments. There are also so-called "Gzhel mesh", which are often used by artists in the design - these are "tendrils", "combs", "droplets" and "pearls". The masters of these areas have many secrets; they consist in special smear techniques: all strokes are different and individual, they all necessarily differ from each other. They have certain names, and there are a lot of names. It is also necessary to be able to correctly use white and blue colors, maintain their correct ratio.
History of ghost painting
These three types of folk painting are not exhaustive. Zhostovsky fishing is the same age as Gorodetsky and also dates from the nineteenth century. Then some villages near Moscow, such as Khlebnikov, Ostashkov and, in fact, Zhostov, acquired workshops where the craftsmen produced and painted varnished products, the material for which was papier-mâché.
With the advent of the twentieth century, the demand for these products fell sharply, and fishing fell into decay. By 1928, the large Artel Metalloznel artel united all its small artels under its roof. Its center was the village of Zhostovo.
Distinctive features of Zhostovo painting
Her main motive is a floral bouquet, usually located on a red or black background. Sometimes, but much less frequently, other colors are used as the background. According to tradition, in this decorative painting all individual compositions are performed improvisationally. Nature and the sample are not used by the artist, he focuses only on compositional techniques and his imagination, which is why you will never meet two identical trays. However, there are several types of compositions that have developed historically. Typically, flowers are either depicted in baskets or in bouquets of several flowers. They can also be located around the perimeter of the tray, they are often supplemented in this folk painting with birds, berries and fruits.
Before the stage of painting, the tray is ground, primed, and then varnished. Produce it in several stages. Masters use turpentine oil paints, which are applied with squirrel brushes, characterized by increased softness. The painting is applied in several layers, after each of which it is necessary to wait a long drying time.
All stages of drawing production have their own names. The first is the "undermining." This is when the master takes a wide brush and sketches a sketch of the composition. The main color is also determined at this stage. Tables are not used, everything is done right on your lap. The second stage is applied the so-called "shadow" - all shaded places are emphasized. Then with the help of white on the leaves and flowers the volumes are emphasized - this is called “glare”. Next, a "drawing" and an entertaining "planting of seeds" are performed. At this stage, the petals, veins, stamens and pistils are drawn in thin lines. Everything ends with a “binding” - writing out a grassy pattern between leaves and flowers.
When the drawing is completed, the tray is coated with oil varnish in several layers, dried and polished. At the very end, chalk powder is taken, and with the palms of the hands they bring a mirror shine. The tray is ready.
Toy painting
Folk art includes another ancient form of craft - a toy.
The history of this type of folk painting is much older than everyone else. This is really a mirror of the way of life, traditions, life of ancestors. Toys that have miraculously reached our days can tell a lot about antiquity. Wood and clay were very practical and affordable materials, which is why toys from them were widespread and were the first to be decorated using murals.
Types and features of painting clay toys
Many Dumka horses will come to mind. But the oldest of those clay toys that were found, for more than fifteen centuries. At first it was the simplest whistle birds, which later turned into incredible works of applied art. At first, the clay figurine was dried. During this process, paints were prepared. They were bred on peroxidized kvass, after which the finished paint still had to be rubbed on the egg. At first they took light colors, then switched to dark ones. His particular style also depended on the regions and their mural schools. The most famous of them: Dymkovo, Filimonov and Kargopol toys.
These are very specific toys. Their horses, dolls and roosters are so bright and stately that it is not easy to forget them. Who is unfamiliar with the Dymkovo horse? They are always performed not without cheerfulness and humor in the image. The background of their painting is always white, otherwise the contrasting colors are used: blue, purple, red, pink, orange.
Grandfather Philemon became so famous that his memory is still alive through these toys. Funny and bright elongated figures of riders, peasant women and soldiers are pleasing to the eye, striped animals do not lag behind. Yellow background, juicy colors: red, blue and green.
But these toys, on the contrary, are harsh: darker colors were mixed in the colors (brown and swamp), which made their appearance gloomy. However, humor was also inherent in them in depicting scenes from people's lives. Today, brighter colors are used more often: orange, red, golden.
Wooden toys
Wooden toys were first created for educational purposes. Swords and bows are for dexterity; tops - we know the mechanics; various flutes and pipes, on the one hand, entertained, on the other - helped make friends with music. There were many types of folk painting in the case of them.
Sergiev Posad was the largest center for wooden toys. Here, mostly genre crafts were made, such as hussars, mistresses and monks. The tones used were pretty mean.
- Balusters from Fedoseevo.
Fedoseevsky "balusters", that is, fun, were more complex genre toys. Their multi-figure combinations, for example horse-drawn carts and carousels, were distinguished by their colorful design and elegant colors. For the background, as a rule, green and yellow colors were used.
Everyone knows a nesting doll. It is recognizable not only in Russia, but in almost every corner of the world. However, this is the youngest of folk toys, matryoshka dolls appeared a century ago. It is believed that they developed from painted eggs - Easter eggs. To paint these figures, traditionally take bright and catchy colors. Matryoshka symbolizes the mystery and breadth of the soul of a Russian person.
It is safe to say that whatever type of painting you take - time, terrain and the characteristic features of the craft of a school always affect the result. However, not a single creation of the master ceases to be unique from this. From Zhostovo trays to Filimonovo toys - all of them are designed to please people with warmth, beauty and originality, qualities that they carried through the centuries.