Painting on wood - a miracle and greatness of Russian traditions

In the history of the human race, people did not have a more convenient, practical and reliable material for the arrangement of everyday life than wood. From it, almost every object was produced, and still produces, from a spoon to a car. And although this material is beautiful in itself, mankind has come up with many ways to decorate wooden products. Some of them, for example, carving and painting on wood, have turned into real art and have been cultivated for centuries.

Everything was described - the facades of houses and farm buildings, fences and fences, benches and benches. The interior blossomed, transforming into fairy-tale mansions, if there was a large and bright painting on it. Everyday dish was painted with love and diligence. And if she was going as a dowry, the masters tried to outdo each other in the beauty and refinement of the drawing.

Each region had its own favorite patterns and ornaments, and the technique of applying them was different. On the pediments of the houses of the northern inhabitants there were large flowers, a pattern of lush foliage or a colored "checker", which was applied with wide, free strokes of the brush, without any preliminary drawing. These strokes then stood out in small light strokes - the animations. Colors were picked up warm, sometimes, as in the Arkhangelsk region, almost hot - ocher-yellow flowers on a red or orange background.

Very colorful was Ural painting on wood. It had its own unique composition - a bouquet, when one or more of the flowers gathered together was in an upright position right on the center, drawing attention to itself. Above and below the "bouquet" was framed with stripes. The technique of "bouquet" is very interesting: the main color of the composition is "podmalevyvayut" paint applied to the fingers, and only then prescribed petals and herbs, not forgetting about the revitalization. For this painting are characterized by cool colors and shades: blue, blue, green.

Objects for the image in Gorodets and Volkhov paintings served not only flowers and patterns. Gorodets painting on wood is easily recognizable by "plot": galloping horses with riders, strolling young ladies, playing dogs and cats. Volkhovskaya - remarkable landscapes, playing light and shadow, natural motifs.

The Khokhloma painting got world fame. All the utensils decorated in this technique are painted with red and black "gingerbread" and "grass", on top of which the golden "kudrin" is twisted. Then all this splendor is covered with a special lacquer, which adds extra beauty and durability.

Palekh miniatures are also known . The painting of Palekh masters was based on the techniques of icon painting: subtlety and roundness of lines, some conventionality, the use of gold and tempera colors. Painted in Palekh casket, powder box or cigarette case turns into a jewel.

However, the most ancient is the Mezenskaya painting. The main pattern used in this mural is small geometric figures. Discs, crosses, rhombuses, asterisks, crosses were made in two colors: red and black. In this ornament, stylized images of deer and horses were interwoven. Scattered images of birds were less common. In general, such a painting on wood leaves the impression of primitiveness or childish naivety, but, nevertheless, the decorative function carries a very bright.

However, the painting of wooden objects served not only as an ornament, but also for hiding some defects in the material - knots, slanting, spots. But in some areas (for example, in the Upper Volga region) the naturalness of the material was valued and the painting on wood was almost not used, being replaced by delicate, multifaceted carving.