Larisa Lebedeva

Russia

Year(s) attended: 2009

Union of Folk Artists at the Chuvash National Congress

Khohloma Wood Painting

Khohloma techniques are applied to all kinds of carved wood items, both functional and decorative. Usually, three artists are involved in the making of a single piece. For example, bowls, vases, spoons and ladles are carved from seasoned lime wood, coated with a red-brown pigment, impregnated with linden oil and aluminum powder to produce a silvery matte finish, and then painted.

Khohloma can be traced to seventeenth century Russia and, specifically, to the town of Semenevo and neighboring villages. Larisa Lebedeva studied khohloma ornamental painting at Semenevo’s school of folk arts. This was followed by several years work at a factory that produced khohloma during which time she reached the highest artistic classification possible. However, Larissa first became interested in ornamental painting through first observing and then helping her grandmother paint wooden spoons and bowls. She now gives master classes in khohloma painting to youth and adults.