Folk crafts originate where there is a need for utilitarian products - spoons, towels, spinning wheels. And also where there is a large amount of available material: wood, for example. And then - the desire to surround yourself with beauty, to preserve this beauty in daily products, that is, the aesthetics inherent in every person. But where to get the colors, because there are so many shades in nature? And soot, clay, crushed soft stone, chalk and other natural dyes are used. And so the Volkhov painting appeared. It developed on the banks of the Volkhov River in the 19th century.
Initially, it was quite simple and soft. Later, the appearance of color paints brought such diversity into the color gamut of products that only one is amazed at unbridled fantasies, repeating either the soft lyricism of the coniferous forest and lake, or the brightness of the South Russian nature.
The whole Russian North was engaged and famous for crafts associated with wooden carvings and wood products. Arkhangelsk province, Kizhi, Permogorye, Ladoga district, Lodeinopolsky district. Today, the harsh and simple products of old masters are being improved more and more, becoming more elegant, intricate, brighter. Masters take the best from each other, bring their own, beloved and personal, and the next generation is already creating in the established traditions, but introducing its "fashionable". Folk art has always been the bearer of the cathedral principle.
"Zolochenki" and "krashenka"
Among others, the Volkhov painting on wood seems too simple and similar to other types of folk painting. But how good the unique painted spinning wheels that she is famous for!
The first look, “gilded”, is more elegant: their background is yellow-gold, on the front side there is a large flower, each petal is written out. This flower must be in the frame of a colored strip with the name of the owner. And no symmetry is needed! And the flip side of the spinning wheel is decorated with a simpler flower. The paint is easy to apply on a polished wooden surface.
The history of "paint" is more ancient. There is no gold, but the grace and craftsmanship of the decoration, the originality of each spinning wheel surprise and delight.
Baroque features in Volkhov painting
At the end of the nineteenth - beginning of the twentieth century, the painting acquired the features of Baroque. Products become elegantly lush, as decorated with a special technique of volumetric pattern. This is not just spinning wheels or tray boards. This is even furniture with rounded chiseled legs, earrings, caskets, Easter eggs.
A peculiar pattern of painting from flowers, not specific, but "very beautiful", not similar to any of those growing on the banks of Ladoga and Volkhov. Products of the Volkhov masters have been adorned with such since ancient times. But flowers become magically beautiful, bright against a dark background of leaves or shadows after penetrating Baroque-style artifacts on Ladoga, where exactly such flowers are used by Zhostovo paintings.
Volkhov painting today
Today, this type of painting continues to exist in the form of already new products, subordinate to the current fashion, which seeks individuality, originality and warmth of human hands in products. Modern works of Volkhov masters of painting are presented today at international exhibitions, where they preserve the traditional decor of products. But painted wooden products are still needed, interesting and very useful in the interiors of modern summer cottages, and sometimes urban cottages. These are wall panels and furniture, kitchen utensils (salt shakers, spoons, trays, etc.).
We recommend taking a chance
Homemade artwork is now very popular. One way to express your vision of the world is to paint a wooden board. You can purchase a finished chopping board and prime (completely paint over) with paint. If there is no board, you can use plywood (hardboard). And the paints are now diverse and available: oil, acrylic, a mixture of PVA glue with gouache. Try each one and find your own. And to help you will be the Volkhov painting on the photo. An unsuccessful drawing can be scraped off or primed again with a background.
Try to copy some drawing of the Volkhov masters. A quality master class of Volkhov painting will help you with this. You will understand how difficult it is to choose a color scheme and maintain this particular Volkhov style. But it will be interesting.
Good luck to you! And remember, the process is important, not the result. And if you like the result, try other types of folk painting: Mezen, Vologda, Penza, etc.