Zhostovo painting is artistic painting on tin trays. This Russian folk craft originated in the village of Zhostovo, located in the Moscow region. This is where the name of the technique comes from. The origin of the fishery dates back to 1825. Zhostovo painting has gained worldwide popularity. Interest in this artistic craft continues to this day. How to make a Zhostovo tray in stages is a topic that will be discussed in detail below.
History of the fishery
The industry arose in the middle of the 18th century in the Urals, where the largest number of metallurgical plants were concentrated. In the 19th century, trays began to be actively produced in the villages of the Moscow province - Zhostovo and Novoseltsev. Soon the local fishery gained enormous popularity.
Beginning in 1920, quite powerful labor artels began to form in different towns. However, ten years later, folk crafts tried to supplant Soviet ideas that suggested the establishment of realism.
Only in the 1960s. artistic painting regained its impressive authority. Leading masters created not only bright and original compositions, but also captivated with their special flavor and genuine exclusivity.
Features of magical paintings
Such works combine decades-old artistic techniques and innovative concepts. The liveliness of their forms and palette does not contradict the decorative generality, and the realism of the image is harmoniously intertwined with the fantasy plot. To achieve such perfection, masters train for years: they learn the tricks of the craft, copy the work of their predecessors and develop an individual handwriting.
The main motif for which Zhostovo painting became famous is pictures of wild and garden flowers, fruits and vegetables. There are two types of designs: a bouquet, when the plants are collected in the center, and a wreath, with curling patterns around the edges. In the latter case, the middle may remain empty or be filled with other objects - birds, animals, human figures, temple buildings or architectural monuments. Bright shades look even more impressive against a dark background - previously it was almost always black, but now there are crimson, emerald, and indigo options. And sometimes, instead of a primer, the product is smoked over a candle - such a substrate is called “smoked” or “turtle-grain”.
Zhostovo painting on an amber painting
For the perfect masterpiece, it is important to choose the right tools and materials. Very finely ground pigments are diluted with linseed oil heated to 300°C so that the paint picks up well and goes on smoothly, without bald spots or lumps. They paint with brushes made from the fur of squirrels or kolinas (a predatory animal from the mustelidae family) - they give a long, “elastic” stroke. The base plate should be no thinner than 3.2 mm and have a smooth, polished surface, but different configurations are acceptable - from a circle or oval to complex polygons.
The origin of Zhostovo painting from folk craft makes this type of art both aesthetic and utilitarian, that is, trays are not only admired, but also used for their intended purpose - for drinking tea or serving food. This versatility is possible thanks to a special coating that is applied over the finished painting. The composition of this varnish is a company secret; what is known is that it includes copal, a prehistoric resin related to amber, mined in Brazil, Colombia, Congo and Zanzibar.
Zhostovo patterns in amber painting
Colors of Zhostovo painting
The classic presentation of the picture assumes a black or red background. More progressive modern concepts also allow the use of delicate pastel canvases to create a rich multi-color composition.
The Zhostovo factory produces products with a red, blue, green or light blue background. One of the most popular shades is “ivory”. Less common are “gold” and “aggressive” red canvases.
Canvases with a mother-of-pearl coating look especially elegant. Shimmers can “decorate” both the entire background and individual accents of the composition. Mother of pearl inlay was originally used in Fedoskino.
Primary colors
The color palette used by the masters of Zhostovo art is more than diverse and rich.
The following colors are preferred for the background:
- Black(#000000);
- Ivory or wheat (#F5DEB3);
- Red(#FF0000);
- Blue (#00BFFF);
- Azure (#007FFF);
- Yellow(#FFBA00);
- Burgundy (#900020);
- Gold (#FFD700);
- Amber (#FFBF00);
- Brown (#964B00).
To create the drawing itself, you can use absolutely any color. Improvisation with tones and halftones is encouraged.
Required materials and tools
To create a drawing similar to Zhostovo painting, you will need the following materials and tools:
- paints, for such painting it is best to use gouache;
- colored paper or cardboard in black, green or blue; if you don’t have anything suitable at hand, you can take plain paper and tint it with the indicated colors;
- brushes numbered 2, 4, 5, it is recommended to use kolinsky or squirrel brushes, as they help best draw small details of the composition;
- container with clean water;
- a piece of cloth to wipe brushes;
- cotton buds;
- palette.
Elements and patterns of Zhostovo painting
Most often, Zhostovo artists create simple flower arrangements in the form of bouquets. The pattern is formed from harmoniously connected small flowers and large spectacular inflorescences, unopened buds and green foliage.
Popular flowers: rose, aster, peony, tulips, dahlias, complemented by thin leaves, buds and stems with small branches. In addition to garden compositions, artists often depict modest violets, cute lilies of the valley, touching pansies or bindweed.
Along with traditional lilies, immortelle, thyme and daisies, artists loved to depict completely unprecedented outlandish flowers that do not exist in nature. Particularly rich bouquets are complemented with fruits and berries. Sometimes butterflies and birds may be depicted in the center or in the background.
(Zhostovo painting with a plot picture)
In addition to flower arrangements, Zhostovo artists sometimes painted narrative paintings. These are scenes from the lives of ordinary people, various landscapes, luxurious landscape compositions. A popular motif is a trio of horses surrounded by flowers.
The main feature of painting is an improvisational approach to any drawings. Artists are not at all obliged to create according to strict templates and images, or to follow special patterns or nature. Given the amazing variety of artistic techniques, improvisational base and creative approach, each drawing is truly unique and inimitable.
Master Class
This lesson will help you master this type of painting on your own. The master class can be used by teachers teaching drawing to children. Let's look at how to perform the Zhostovo drawing step by step.
Dahlias are used as the main flower of the composition. These flowers are the easiest to draw for beginners and children. First they make a sketch. Draw a circle on a simple sheet of paper. After this, the flower itself is created using the double stroke technique. To do this, take two shades. It is best to use red and yellow.
First, the brush is dipped into yellow gouache. The excess is removed on the edge of the container. Grab red gouache onto the tip of the brush. After this, strokes are made on the sketch at four points - from below, from above, from one side and the other. The brush is held in such a way that a yellow tint first “lays” on the leaf, and the tip of the petal turns red.
Then the leaves are drawn in a circle. When the paint runs out, the brush is again dipped in succession, first in yellow and then in red gouache.
When the first circle is completely drawn, the second row of petals is made. It is done inside the first circle according to the same principle. Then the petals are made in the very center of the dahlia. The flower is ready.
You can complement the composition with poppies. Again you need to sketch. To do this, dip the brush in yellow paint and draw a small circle on the paper. This will be the core of the flower. After this, narrow leaves are drawn on top and bottom in red. One stroke is added to them on the sides. A total of three strips are obtained, which are connected into one leaf in the shape of a heart.
Only two strips are applied on the sides at a short distance from each other, which are connected in a semicircle. In the center of the leaves, white veins are drawn with white paint, and seeds are made in black on the core of the poppy.
The easiest wildflower to draw is a daisy. The core is painted on the leaf with yellow paint. Make a small circle, to which petals are then added. Here again they use the double stroke technique, but in this case they use white and blue tones. First, the brush is dipped into white gouache. Excess paint is wiped off the edges of the container. After this, the tip of the brush is immersed in blue gouache.
First, petals are made from above, from below, from one side and the other. The design is made in such a way that there is a blue tint closer to the center, and the petals are white at the edges. After this, the petals are drawn in a circle, filling all the empty space.
The composition will not be complete without adding small flowers. This is a feature of the Zhostovo tray, a combination of large and small buds. If the lesson is held on the topic: “Zhostovo drawing, grade 5,” it is best to choose clover. Children will have no problem drawing such a flower.
To obtain a suitable tone, two types of paint are mixed on the palette - fuchsia and white. The result should be a soft pink tone.
The resulting paint is grabbed with a brush and an even circle is drawn. This is the basis of clover. After this, the leaves are written out. The brush is dipped in fuchsia paint and rows of clover petals are drawn in succession:
- small strokes are made on the base of the clover;
- write out the second row of leaves, which should be in the center of the flower;
- make strokes at the top of the clover - this is the last tier of petals.
After this, the brush is dipped into green gouache. Excess paint is removed using a container bur. Leaves and a stem are drawn at the bottom of the clover.
The bouquet includes forget-me-nots. To draw such flowers, it is best to use cotton swabs. Some flowers are made white, others blue. The center of all forget-me-nots is yellow.
A cotton swab is dipped into yellow gouache. After this, many dots are placed on the piece of paper - this will be the core of the forget-me-nots. There is a distance between them to draw the petals. However, the dots are not drawn too far apart to combine the flowers into a single composition.
After this, take another cotton swab and immerse it in white gouache. Five dots are placed on the sides of the core, which will be leaves. Then forget-me-nots are painted in a blue tint. Stems and leaves are written between the flowers.
Next they move on to writing leaves. This is more difficult to make than flowers. To write out leaves, you need to practice to make smooth, rounded lines. Move the brush slowly, clockwise.
To draw the leaves, again use the double stroke technique. First, the brush is dipped into green gouache. The excess is removed against the side of the container. Grab yellow gouache onto the tip of the brush.
Draw long leaves. To do this, write out a zigzag on paper. First, they move along the paper with the tip of the brush, then with the entire brush, and again with the tip, twisting the tool with a finger.
After this, they move on to drawing the leaves of roses and dahlias. To do this, draw the outline of the plant with a pencil. After this, the sketch is filled with green paint. First, make a stroke in the center of the leaf, to which strokes are added on the sides and thus fill the entire contour. The strokes are applied using the zigzag technique: first, the tip of the brush is drawn across the paper, then with the entire brush, and again with the tip, twisting the tool with a finger.
Another option for writing out leaves is the “comma” technique. They make a drawing like this: they move along the paper with the tip of the brush, and then with the whole brush. First, make a smear in the center. After this, two more strokes are performed on the sides.
You can include grass in the ornament. To do this, use a brush to make thin strokes in the shape of a regular comma.
When the technique of drawing flowers has been mastered, they move on to drawing a Zhostovo tray on paper. To do this, take a black sheet and transfer the composition onto it in the following sequence:
- dahlias and poppies are placed in the center;
- flowers are complemented with daisies;
- include clover and forget-me-nots;
- the composition is “assembled” using stems and leaves;
- the bouquet is complemented with grass.
The final stage of creating a tray is writing out the ornament. You can use any pattern for this. It can be a simple version of dots and sticks or an intricate, complex design.
The drawing is ready. If students made it, they can give it to their parents. For example, for mom on March 8th.
Zhostovo painting is one of the most beautiful and simple techniques that even elementary school students can master. A presentation of schoolchildren's drawings often decorates the stands of educational institutions. This drawing can be done with your child at home, so that he not only has an interesting time, but also gets acquainted with Russian folk crafts.
Execution technique
Traditional painting involves the use of exclusively black canvas. Trays made of metal and wood of various shapes were used for fishing: from standard rectangular to complex combined ones.
Let's look at the whole process step by step:
Primer
At the primary priming stage, the products are treated with a special putty material and sanded. It is now that the master selects the background for the base, which will then be impossible to change.
Zamalenok
This is the basis of the ornament. Using diluted paint, the master forms the silhouettes of all the elements that will be present in the drawing. At this stage, the improvisational component is almost completely absent, and the basis for the future ornament is set strictly according to a pre-thought-out scheme.
Tenezhka
The shade allows you to give a translucent composition greater realism. Distinct shadows, “highlights” of light and halftones appear. Flowers become voluminous, leaves and stems look more natural.
Pad
This is the most critical stage. The interlining layer allows you to give the bouquet the utmost degree of realism, which distinguishes Zhostovo painting from other artistic crafts. The artist’s task is to “clarify” details and highlight individual areas. The master sets the tone of contrast or “evens out” the compositions through harmonious transitions.
Glare
Light and volume are built by superimposing highlights. The bouquet, as if exposed to the rays of the sun, begins to glow and shine. Now the composition has a special flavor and mood.
Drawing
This is a very interesting stage. The master’s task is to draw each element of the picture using a thin brush and a minimum quantity, adding realism to it. Seeds appear on the berries, pistils and stamens appear in the flower cups, leaves, grass and stems become voluminous and believable due to lacy additions and other complex accents.
(The main stages of painting in a visual drawing)
And then…
Binding
At this stage, a complex composition must be “implanted” into the background. To do this, the master uses thin blades of grass, tendrils, and ornate elements, which add even more volume to the canvas and make the entire composition whole and complete.
In order for the product to look finished and the style to fully comply with generally accepted canons, craftsmen resort to “cleaning”. This is the decoration of the side of the tray with various geometric lines, floral patterns, and floral wreaths. The edging can be very modest, only slightly emphasizing the frame, or very rich, not inferior in its splendor to the central figures of the composition.
Stages of creating a drawing
Stages of creating a Zhostovo tray:
- Painting. Choose a theme for the composition and create sketches of the bouquet.
- Tenezhka. They cast shadows and give volume to flowers.
- Pad. All elements of the composition are carefully written out.
- Glare. There are highlights on all the details. The effect of illumination of the bouquet is created. Thanks to this, the flowers gain volume.
- Drawing. To perform this step, use a brush. Thanks to this painting, the flowers look like real ones. The master makes veins on the leaves, draws seeds and other plant details.
- Binding. Using stems and leaves, the bouquet is assembled into a single composition.
- Cleaning the edges. This is the final stage of tray design. The sides of the product are decorated with various ornaments.
This is a complex painting technique that is used only by professionals. For beginners, it is best to first master simple pictures made on sheets of paper.
Tray Museum
A wonderful, very informative and modern Museum of Trays operates today at the factory. It is there that the children will listen with the greatest interest to the history of the origin of Zhostovo painting - not just an excursion, but a full-fledged master class will be organized for children.
Every child is interested in finding out “what’s inside?”, and it’s also interesting to visit the factory itself. Such excursions not only educate and develop, they inspire children to creativity and self-knowledge through art initiatives.
Among Russian crafts, no less interesting is the history of the emergence of Khokhloma, which you can get acquainted with in our article: “How Khokhloma arose: history, interesting facts, development of the craft.”
The Zhostovo fishery today is not an enterprise that acts only as a custodian of traditions. This is a modern, developing factory that sells a large line of products, works with children and adults, provides training and allows the beautiful folk craft to live and continue.
