Primary colors of Dymkovo painting. Dymkovo clay toy

In Russia, pottery originated in ancient times. At that time, our ancestors paid great attention to ritual holidays. The "whistle dance" was no exception - a celebration honoring the sun god Yaril. On this day, the participants of the holiday exchanged painted clay balls and used clay whistles with might and main. This was the reason for the appearance of ritual accessories, among which the Dymkovo toy took pride of place.

The history of the fishery

The Dymkovo toy was "born" in Kirov. Five centuries ago, beyond the Vyatka River, there was a small settlement of Dymkovo, where Tsar Ivan III ordered to resettle residents from the northern regions of Russia. Among them there were many talented pottery masters who launched active activities in the production of toys in a new place. Entire families were involved in the work process: some mined clay and made mixtures from lump chalk; others sculpted toys; the third - they were burned; the fourth - whitewashed and painted.

For four hundred years the Dymkovo fishery has been developing. During this time, their themes, images, characteristic drawings have developed. There was no place for inexpressive ornaments or dull shades. Dymkovo toy is the embodiment of life in the most joyful colors. It is not surprising that by the beginning of the 19th century whistles from Dymkovo won the love of the inhabitants of all Russia. More than 100 thousand toys were produced per year, which were sold in the capital and the Orenburg province. 59 families from Dymkovo worked on their creation. Among the most famous names were Koshkins, Nikulins.

(Mezrina Anna Afanasievna - a craftswoman of the Dymkovo toy)

At the beginning of the 20th century, "black times" came for the Dymkovo toy. They ceased to enjoy their former popularity, so the famous families of pottery artisans began to look for other ways to earn money. Exclusive whistles began to be replaced by cheap plaster options. Only one craftswoman, Anna Mezrina, remained true to traditional clay production. It is to her that descendants can be grateful for the preservation of the Dymkovo fishery.

(Master E. A. Koshkina and artist A. Denshin)

The artist Alexei Denshin also played an equally important role in continuing the traditions of his ancestors. From a young age, he was fond of the Dymkovo toy, carefully sketching all the known ornaments. Even after the October Revolution, he did not lose hope of drawing attention to folk art: he released handwritten albums, collected collections of toys. His efforts were crowned with success: in the 30s of the 20th century, the Dymkovo craft began to revive in Kirov.

Types of Dymkovo toys

Traditional images of Dymkovo toys are a lady, pets, a turkey. All of them are made in bright colors, calling to show the joy of life. Collectors appreciate figurines, with which you can create certain plot compositions.

Dymkovo toy, despite its canonicity, is exclusive. The fact is that each craftswoman tries to bring her author's developments to the product. Therefore, it is impossible to find two absolutely identical toys.

Among the most popular images that are “played out” in the Dymkovo toy are the following:

Turkey- colorful, like a peacock, with a characteristic beard, decorated with gold leaf. Sizes can be different: from tiny 5 cm to impressive 40 cm;

Lady- this is an exquisite city lady, and a traditional young lady in a kokoshnik. There may be children around. Gold potal also decorates individual details;

Lamb- figurines of this animal can be with different sizes of horns. A distinctive feature is their gilding. Lambs are ordinary or in smart amusing clothes;

horse- the traditional image of the animal in bright blue tones or "in the bull's-eye".

Male images in the Dymkovo toy are played up most often in the form of a rider on a horse, a walking city or village "cavalier". Figurines of pigs, birds, bells are popular.

Manufacturing technology

The process of creating a Dymkovo toy consists of two stages: the formation of a figure and its coloring.

Clay and river sand are used to create the figurine. According to the rules, it should be Vyatka red clay. Each part of the toy is created separately: a body is formed from a spherical lump of clay, on which the rest of the parts are “assembled” (legs, handles, head, accessories, etc.). All parts must be fastened with smooth transitions. This helps to avoid chipping in the future.

The finished image is dried in the open air for several days. Then it is burned on fire. Previously, a Russian stove was used for this. Today - muffle, where the temperature reaches 1000C.

When the blank cools down, it is bleached with tempera paints. Our ancestors used milk for this purpose.

At the next stage of creating a toy - coloring, only pure colors are used without mixing. In the old days, natural dyes based on eggs, milk, soot, vinegar, tempera were taken for this. Today there are ready-made acrylic paints. The main requirement: brightness and naturalness. Be sure to use gold leaf for individual details.

Painting Dymkovo toy

Dymkovo toy is a symbol of joy, vitality. The ornaments that are depicted on it are a smooth painting combined with geometric patterns. The colors are chosen according to the principle of contrast and advantageous underlining each other. The tails of birds, the horns of animals, the details of people's wardrobe are covered with copper sweat (in the old days, thin sheets of gold leaf were taken for this).

Traditional colors of the Dymkovo toy: blue, red, yellow, emerald green, blue, green, orange. White and black paint are used in a minimal amount to emphasize certain areas.

Each color that is involved in the Dymkovo toy has its own meaning: white - symbolizes purity; black is a lie; green - nature; red - strength, health; blue is the sky.

(Sketch by artist Alexey Denshin for a toy)

Old masters diluted paints on egg yolk. The recipes were kept secret. The coloring was carried out in a strict sequence:

• hair;
• eyes and eyebrows;
• mouth and cheeks;
• headdress;
• ornaments on clothes.

The patterns in the Dymkovo toy are closely connected with amulets, symbols of nature. There are solar and lunar signs as a symbol of the origin of life; rhombuses - as a sign of fertility; waves - as a sign of the sky and moisture.

The final touch in the painting was the application of gold leaf.

Today, the Dymkovo toy continues its development. New technologies appear, fresh ideas are born. But the traditions of production remain unchanged.

The development of fine motor skills, logic, attentiveness and perseverance in a child must be dealt with from an early age. Proven teaching methods include drawing or coloring outlines of shapes. Parents, in order to captivate their baby, use various patterns for drawing.

Dymkovo toys will be the most suitable for this purpose. Despite their apparent simplicity, they have small details, for the painting of which the child will need to make a lot of effort.

Dymkovo toys are created in several stages. They cannot be made without special skills, so the process of making such crafts by children is usually controlled by professional craftsmen.

On the way to getting a quality result, the toy must first be molded, then dried thoroughly, burned, whitewashed and beautifully painted. Skipping one of these steps may result in the figurine being too fragile or not working at all.

Dymkovo toys are molded by hand. Despite the existence of uniform templates for drawing, in reality, not a single craft is similar to its counterparts, precisely because of the individual approach to their creation.

The sequence of creating a toy:

Easy coloring pages of Dymkovo patterns for little kids

Dymkovo toys (drawing templates, in particular) should be chosen based on the age of the child who will work with them.

The development of children will be beneficially affected by the painting of large components of the drawing, using the most saturated colors.

Among the most popular options for such pictures:

Drawing for coloring
	Horse. The task for the kid will be to color the horse the way he thinks it will be as beautiful as possible. Typically, children are encouraged to use red, white, orange and yellow pencils. This set of colors, as a rule, is sufficient not only for their individual use, but also for the creation of new shades. On this version of the coloring, the child, if desired, can draw the muzzle of the animal, or can simply give the picture brightness, without adding patterns to it.
	Matryoshka. Coloring this drawing with the image of a nesting doll is best combined with telling the kid the history of the origin of the original Russian toy. It will also be interesting for the child to learn the principle of playing with such a wooden doll. Pencils of red, black, white and yellow are usually used to give brightness to this sketch.
	Lady. The process of coloring the lady will also be an exciting activity for the kids. Despite the outward simplicity of the drawing, giving it color requires thinking through the shades used in the work. To complicate the task, the child can be given the goal of coloring the outlines of a woman so that the items of her clothes are combined with each other, and not merged. To this end, it is recommended to offer him to choose a shade for work among an unlimited number of pencils. Experience shows that children most often choose red, yellow, green, blue, black and white.

Complex coloring pages with a lot of small elements

Dymkovo toys (templates for drawing as well as drawings for coloring are freely available on the Web), due to the variety of their options, they can also be used with older children.

For students attending grades 3-5, it will be interesting to paint more complex patterns with a lot of small details.

Sketch for coloring	Description of the drawing and the principle of working with it
	"Walk". This picture for coloring is a complete artistic composition. It depicts a man and a woman in a boat on a river. The task facing the child is to make colored not only the costumes of people, consisting of small details, but also the objects surrounding them. These include the heavenly bodies, the pattern on the ship, and the waves. The main colors with which the student will have to work are red, blue, white, black and their derivatives.
	"The Bears". This sketch shows a family of bears. Animals are depicted in human form: they wear clothes and jewelry. The complexity of coloring this drawing is the presence of a large number of small details of the characters' clothing. To complicate the task, you can offer the child to make the picture as realistic as possible (paint the bears in the appropriate colors, as in life, and their clothes in the shades most often found in adult wardrobe items). Usually children work with such an image using blue, red, black, yellow, brown and white colors.
	"Rider". This is one of the most popular coloring pictures used by educators when working with them. It depicts a boy on horseback. In this case, the child will need to carefully paint the smallest details of the image of a young man, as well as reproduce the color of the animal and surrounding objects. It is recommended to work with brown, black, red, blue, yellow, orange, blue and green.

Dymkovo toy Lady

Dymkovo toys (drawing templates will help children master artistic skills) in adults are associated with the figure of a lady. A drawing template depicting a woman in a beautiful outfit will teach the child to draw details that create a realistic face of a person and details of his clothes.

The lady may look different:

It is worth choosing the most suitable option, based on the experience and age of the children who will work with the template. At the initial stage, it is optimal to let the child complete the simplest image of a woman without unnecessary details.

For example:

Dymkovo toys

Roosters

Roosters drawn in the style of a Dymkovo toy can also look different. On some templates, they are depicted in full growth, on others - only the upper body.

The traditional version looks like this:

duck

Horse

The traditional template for drawing a horse in the style of a Dymkovo toy suggests the presence of the outlines of an animal, sometimes with an already traced muzzle. The purpose of the work of the young artist is to decorate the existing image, subject to the maximum consistency of style. If desired, the child can finish the surrounding objects or create a complete composition, for example, depict a rider or another horse next to an existing one. It is recommended to use brown, black, red, green and yellow colors.

Goat

Deer

Turkey

The traditional version of the Dymkovo turkey sketch is one of the most favorite tasks for middle school children. For children, the interest in working with such a template lies in the existing large field for creativity and imagination. In this case, they don't just have to paint small details on the body of the bird or add surrounding objects. Here their task is, among other things, to paint the tail of a turkey in any color scheme they like. Usually, for this purpose, children choose red, green, yellow, orange colors and their derivatives.

Classes using drawing templates, in particular Dymkovo toys, not only develop creative (artistic) skills in the child, but also stimulate his attention to detail and painstaking work in completing tasks.

Knowing which blanks to use, as well as exactly how to work with them, it will be possible for a parent to properly organize a lesson with a child even at home.

Article formatting: Svetlana Ovsyanikova

Video on the topic: Dymkovo toys

Dymkovo clay toy "Bird":

Dymkovo toy is a bright representative of Russian folk art. The product is unusual and unique. This type of folk art craft continued to develop for a long time and was replaced by generations of craftsmen. Haze painting first appeared 400 years ago and continues to be popular. Throughout this time, its appearance has not ceased to change, but the principle of its creation has remained the same.

This type of fishing originated from Dymkovskaya Sloboda, which is currently included in the city of Kirov (formerly Vyatka). There is a special legend that is associated with the creation of such a toy. Many centuries ago, two friendly troops met near the walls of this city, but due to the fact that it was too dark on the street, they thought that they were enemies to each other, and a bloody battle began. A large number of warriors died in it, it is believed that their angry spirits still continue to fly over this field. After this sad event, it was decided to celebrate feast every year in the spring.

Over time, such an incident was forgotten, and instead of a feast, festivities arose, which became known as “whistle dances”. On this day, women were supposed to sculpt various clay figures, which were then beautifully painted with numerous patterns and decorative elements. During the holiday, figurines whistled merrily, and colored balls, in which a pea was previously placed, were thrown at each other, which additionally filled the street with a cheerful noise.

Of course, not only the battle of friendly troops led to the appearance of such a holiday and the Dymkovo toy itself. It should also be noted that near the Dymkovo settlement there were large deposits of clay that could be freely used in ceramics. The unusual method of sculpting Dymkovo figures and painting them made them especially popular among residents not only of Kirov, but also of other cities.

The main features of the Dymkovo figurine

The main feature of the Dymkovo toy, which differs markedly from other do-it-yourself products, is that all of them could make a certain sound: crackling, rumbling, whistling, extraneous noise. Such an unusual feature is due to the fact that, according to believers, evil forces cannot stand noise. In ancient times, such a figurine served as a protection from spirits.

In the spring, when vegetables and fruits were planted, the presence of spirits was considered dangerous for the yield and growth of plants. People thought that they appeared in the fields as early as the winter months, and in order to get rid of the spirits, it was necessary to use the spring holidays, which were distinguished by special noise and fun. The Dymkovo figurine was created to scare away dangerous evil forces with the help of whistles and other sounds.

The main feature of such a toy is the presence of noise and whistle. Now the presence of noise in a toy is not considered a particularly important property, but the methods of its creation and painting have survived to this day.

Manufacturing principle

The whole principle of creating such an unusual toy can be divided into several stages. These include:

• modeling;
• drying;
• burning;
• whitewash finish;
• applying patterns and drawings.

The sculpting procedure is carried out by hand, so each resulting model of the figurine differs from the others in its appearance and shape.

For such a toy, bright red clay is most often used, which is pre-mixed with river sand. The toy is created with details, and after that all the details are combined with each other using red liquid clay, while the joints are made smoother, smoothing them with a wet rag.

Dymkovo modeling is distinguished by the following technology:

• preparation of the base (templates for Dymkovo painting in kindergarten);
• creation of additional details;
• connection of the main parts and the body;
• decoration and painting.

The main detail in such a toy is the torso. First, a ball is formed from a piece of clay. They make the best silhouette out of it. The smoother such a process is, the more correct and attractive the finished figure will turn out.

Additional parts are also created from a clay ball, but it must be taken in a small size. Additional parts in this case include: head, neck, limbs of the figurine and the rest. They are installed on the main body, and at the junctions they are masked with clay and water. This will help make the transition a smoother type.

In this case, clay balls, rings, sausages, which are then attached to the figure, can serve as decoration. For example, to create a young lady, you first need to form a cone-shaped skirt. After that, a torso with a molded head is installed on it. Next you need to attach the arms and head. At the end of the work, it remains to dress up the figurine, put on a scarf or an unusual hat on it and put some animal or child in her arms.

Male figures are created according to a different principle. The torso and head in this case are combined with the legs, which look like two sausages that bend at the bottom and get legs. The hat and hair will also be noticeably different from the female version.

The body of an animal (oleshek, goat, cockerel, horse) will look more like a cone, to the sharp part of which the neck and head are attached. The paws in this case are created large, slightly narrowed at the bottom. The horns and tail are mounted on the body of the animal at the very end.

It is also important to consider that all Dymkovo figurines noticeably expand at the bottom. For example, in female images there is always a dress expanding downwards, and male figures are often put on a horse. Animals (goat, horse) have short legs. This is done due to the fact that a too weak bottom may simply not bear the weight of the toy at the end of drying.

Roasting, drying and processing

At the end of the sculpting of the figure, it should be well dried and processed by firing. Drying time will be determined depending on the size of the figurine, temperature and humidity in the room. It is very important to understand humidity, temperature and other parameters.

Depending on these values, drying will last from three days to three weeks.

After drying, the toy must be burned. Previously, a kiln was used to bake a painted figurine. The products were placed on a metal baking sheet and placed on the firewood itself. After the toy began to lean to the side, it was cooled well. Now they use improved models of stoves that help save time and protect the master from possible dangers at work.

At the end of drying and firing, the figurine begins to change its color to red-brown, therefore, after applying the patterns, it is completely whitened. To do this, a special solution obtained from milk and a fine powder is applied to the product. After the milk turns sour, the solution acquires a solid consistency, a smooth layer of white color dries up on the surface of the figurine. Whitening figurines not only helps to give evenness to their surface, but also differs in special brightness and beauty, which makes the product even more decorative.

Despite a large number of attempts to change the constituent elements of the solution, they did not bring significant results. After changing the composition of the figurines, they began to turn yellow or their surface was dented. That is why until our time they continue to use whitewash, which is made from fine powder and milk.

Drawing Features

To create a truly unique and unusual product, you need to use a large number of bright colors, contrasting shades, as well as geometric shapes. With the help of such elements, the figurine will definitely acquire a beautiful festive look. Features of a phased painting:

Dymkovo toys are produced to this day. This process has not been modernized in any way and has not become serial. Figurines continue to be painted and created with their own hands, following the basic rules that were created 400 years ago, when folk craft first appeared. But not all young masters can fully undergo training, but those who are fully trained in it eventually become professionals in their field.

They independently create unusual and attractive images of Dymkovo toys, each of which is distinguished by its unusual appearance and uniqueness. The creation and painting of toys continues to be a female profession. Knowledge of manufacturing principles and a wide imagination will help a woman easily create an unusual image and fill it with a lot of bright colors.

With the help of Dymkovo painting, which has existed for about 400 years, the rich history of the Russian people and the development of its cultural sphere of life continue. Such unusual and attractive figurines not only cheer up a person, but also immerse him in a real fairy tale with a memorable plot that everyone can come up with on their own. And although such figurines currently do not carry any magical purpose, they continue to be symbols of kindness, generosity and health.

Summary of the lesson "Dymkovo toy" for children 6-7 years old

Nersesyan Naira Igorevna, teacher of the MBDOU "Kindergarten of a general developmental type No. 144", Voronezh

Purpose: educators of senior and preparatory groups, primary school teachers, parents.
Target: Acquaintance of children with folk culture.
Tasks:
-Introduce the history of Dymkovo toys.
-To cultivate love and respect for the work of folk craftsmen, for the folk art of Russia.
-To consolidate children's knowledge about the process of making Dymkovo toys and the ability to talk about it.
-To form knowledge about the characteristic features of painting toys, the ability to create patterns according to one's own design. Learn to highlight the elements of the geometric pattern of Dymkovo painting (circles, straight and wavy lines, a cage, dots-peas). Learn to paint with Dymkovo patterns.
-Develop aesthetic perception, sense of rhythm, color, creativity. To deepen aesthetic knowledge of folk arts and crafts.
Preliminary work: drawing up a presentation "Dymkovo toy", original Dymkovo toys for demonstration, printed stencils on white paper (A4 format) and colored pencils.
Lesson plan:
- 1. Organizational moment
2. Theoretical part. Introductory conversation about the history and process of creation with a demonstration of Dymkovo toys, paintings, presentations. Explanation of the painting sequence.
3. Final part.

Lesson progress

Educator: Guys, you all have toys, but what are they made of?
Children: Our toys are made of plastic, rubber, metal, wood, fabric.
Educator: Let's find out what toys are made in the village of Dymkoye?
Why is Dymkovo famous?
With my toy.
It has no smoky color,
And there is the love of people.
There is something of a rainbow in her,
From dew drops.
There is something of joy in her,
Thundering like bass.
(V. Feofanov)
Educator: Affectionately and affectionately, the people call this toy - haze. Where does such an amazing name come from? Let's get acquainted with Dymkovo clay toys. I was born in the large settlement Dymkovo near the city of Vyatka. In ancient times, the inhabitants of this settlement, young and old, sculpted a clay toy for the spring fair. In winter, the whole settlement is in smoke from the fact that stoves are heated, toys are burned. On cloudy days, fog spreads from the river with a light haze. Perhaps this is where the name Dymkovo came from, and the toys began to be called Dymkovo. Dymkovo toys were made for an old holiday<Свистопляска>.Later, the fair-holiday became known as<Свистунья>. What are these toys, let's see?

Through mountain ranges
Through the rooftops of the villages
red-horned, yellow-horned
Clay deer rushes.

Here is a smart turkey,
He's all so good
At the big turkey
All painted sides.
Look, a magnificent tail, He is not at all simple,
Like a sunny flower
Yes, scallop.

The Dymkovo young lady is all in orange, gold, scarlet and green patterns.

Look how good
This soul girl
Scarlet cheeks are burning
Amazing outfit.

Even the horses are in festive attire.

Clay horses rush
On stands that there are forces.
And they won't hold on to the tail
If the mane missed.

Educator: What do all these toys have in common?
Children: All toys have bright colors, all on a white background, covered with beautiful patterns.
Educator: And what do you think, what paint is first covered with a toy?
Children: White. On a white background, the patterns stand out well and beautifully..
Educator: Can you guess where the masters got the white color from?
Children: They took from the snow, from winter. Toys were sculpted in winter!!!
Educator: That's right. The masters took the white background from snow-covered fields, when in winter everything around is white and white. In those places, the winter is long, and there is a lot of snow. The craftsmen want to make the toy as clean and white as snow. Why are they bright?

Children: Because they were made for the holiday, so they were painted with bright colors.
Educator: What colors did the masters use to paint toys?
Children: They used bright colors: red, blue, crimson, yellow, orange, green.
Educator: What patterns do you see on toys?
Children: On the toys there are circles, dots, lines, cells, stripes, curves, waves, squares, rings, ovals.

Educator: What images can be seen in Dymkovo toys?
Children: Horse, cockerel, deer, ram, young lady.
Educator: The most common plots are: nannies with children, water carriers, rams with golden horns, turkeys, roosters, deer and, of course, young people, buffoons, ladies.

Educator: Let's find out how a toy is made?

(Children watch the video on the interactive whiteboard, the teacher talks in parallel).
A lot of work needs to be invested in order to make the toy so elegant. It is born three times. The first time it is born when it is molded from red clay. The traces of modeling are smoothed out to give the product a smooth and neat surface. The toy must be burned to make it durable. The toy heats up from strong heat, and when it cools down, the clay becomes ringing and strong. So the toy is born a second time. There is a trial by fire. And when is the third time born?
Children: The toy is born for the third time when it is whitewashed and painted with paints.
Educator: Then it is whitewashed with chalk, diluted milk, and painted. Sometimes pieces of gold leaf are stuck on top of the pattern, giving even more elegance to the toy. So it is born for the third time. Beautiful bright, elegant toys are sold at the fair. Making a toy, from modeling to painting, is a process unique and creative, never repeating. There are no and cannot be two absolutely identical products. Each toy is unique, one and only.

Educator: I suggest you become real folk craftsmen and paint stencils for Dymkovo toys.

Russia is famous for its artistic crafts, which have a centuries-old tradition. One of the oldest is the Dymkovo toy, a story for children about this amazing craft would be appropriate already in kindergarten. So, how did the Dymkovo toy appear?

The history of the Dymkovo toy

Let's preface the story about the Dymkovo toy with two significant facts:

1. it has been made by craftsmen for over 400 years;
2. these folk toys are known and loved not only in our country, but also abroad.

Dymkovo toy (pictures)

The pictures below will fully help to present the diversity and beauty of the Dymkovo toy.

The name of the craft was given by Dymkovskaya Sloboda, where these clay toys began to be made. For a long time this settlement has been part of the city of Kirov, which used to be called Khlynov and Vyatka.

The origin of the craft is associated with a sad historical legend. At night, the allied troops converged near the city and began to fight, mistaking each other for enemies because of the darkness. Many warriors were left lying on the battlefield. Since then, in the spring, they began to commemorate those who died in this battle - the Khlynovsky battle of 1418.

Time passed, and this tragic story was erased from the people's memory. So the day of remembrance turned into a spring holiday whistle (whistle dance). For mass festivities, Dymkovo residents made toys-whistles: ducks, goats, lambs and clay painted balls.

The great demand for clay crafts, as well as the presence of large reserves of this natural material, made Dymkovskaya Sloboda the birthplace of a well-known folk craft. Of course, the appearance of the first crafts was far from canonical, but over time, the familiar appearance and ornamentation of the Dymkovo toy were formed.

The appearance of the first clay handicrafts in Dymkovo dates back to the 15th-16th centuries. By this time, the toy loses its sacred meaning, which determined the simplicity of its form: the pagan worldview of the Slavs and pre-Christian rites are a thing of the past. The shape of the toys begins to change, they become beautiful and colorful.

The traditions and techniques of making the first masters have survived to this day. The Dymkovo toy known to us today reflected the elements of Russian life of the 19th century, and later images of brave gentlemen and ladies of fashion appeared.

After the great upheavals of the early twentieth century, the fishery practically disappeared. Its revival occurred thanks to the hereditary craftswoman Anna Afanasievna Mezrina, who carefully preserved the traditions of creating toys. In the early 30s, the craftswoman, together with the artist and the first researcher of this folk craft, Alexei Ivanovich Denshin, gathered around her enthusiasts who wanted to recreate the unique Dymkovo toy.

The craftswomen of that time not only kept the old traditions, but also brought novelty to the appearance of clay handicrafts, and also came up with new plots. So the craftswoman E.A. Koshkina has achieved great success in creating group compositions. Her work "Sale of Dymkovo toys" was presented at the international exhibition in Paris in 1937 and gained great fame. The craftswoman O.I. Konovalova (daughter of A.A. Mezrina) liked to create images of animals, and the craftswoman E.I. Penkina preferred to embody everyday scenes in her compositions.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the production of figurines practically ceased: the Kirov region was in the rear, and its inhabitants began to work for the front. However, the evacuees really liked the bright toys, and the craftswomen again took up their creation.

System of images and plots

If we compare the surviving images of the first Dymkovo toys with modern examples of this folk art, we cannot fail to notice that their creators have stepped far ahead over hundreds of years. The toy got rid of the simplicity of form and ornamentation and became more decorative, the number of plots also increased significantly.

Although the masters claim that there are no two absolutely identical figures, five main typical groups can be distinguished:

• Women's images(young ladies and ladies, nannies-nurses with a child in their arms, water-carriers). The ladies have corsets and crinolines, umbrellas in their hands, fashionable hats and outfits; nurses in kokoshniks, wide skirts, aprons with frills. Static figures, full of majesty and dignity.
• Cavaliers, are often depicted astride in profile. Compared to women's images, they are smaller in size and look simpler.
• Animals. Initially, toys were created depicting totem animals: a ram, a goat, a deer, a bear, and images of various domestic animals were gradually added. A distinctive feature of this type: thrown up head and short legs, widely spaced. Often the figurines are “dressed up” in bright colorful costumes of musicians with instruments in their hands.
• Birds(roosters, turkeys, ducks). Ducks have fluffy capes, roosters and turkeys have bright curly tails.
• Compositions. They can include both humans and animals. They present a variety of scenes from Russian urban and rural life: tea drinking, folk festivals, sleigh rides and many others.

A distinctive feature of Dymkovo toys is that they expand downwards. Ladies have fluffy bell-shaped skirts, gentlemen have horses, and animals have stable legs. If the figurines had thin long limbs, they would not have been able to withstand the weight of the body of the toy.

Making a Dymkovo toy

The figurines are made by hand from red clay mixed with sifted sand. The process of creating a toy consists of several stages.

Modeling a Dymkovo toy

The clay toy is molded piece by piece. First, the torso of the figurine is made from clay dough, then other small details are stuck to it with the help of liquid clay. Joints at the points of fastening parts are smoothed with a damp cloth. The toy is leveled with wet fingers.

If you need to make, for example, a lady, then her cone-shaped skirt is first fashioned, to which the torso with an outstretched neck is then stuck. From a ball attached to the neck, a head is obtained. Below, hands are formed from a clay sausage. Then comes the time for details: the lady has a hairstyle of curls, she wears a fashionable hat or kokoshnik, a painted shawl on her shoulders, and a small handbag or a baby in her hands.

The animal is made a little differently. For example, a Dymkovo horse toy is made as follows: short legs are attached to a cylindrical body, and a head with an elongated muzzle is attached to a curved neck. Small details of the figurine - small ears, tail and mane.

Drying

Before firing, the toy must be dried. The drying time depends on the size of the figurine and the conditions in the workshop - air temperature, humidity and others. This process can take 2-3 days or 2-3 weeks.

Burning

In ancient times, toys were fired in a Russian oven, placing them on an iron pan right above the firewood. When the figurines glowed red hot, they were left to cool in the oven. Today, firing is done with special electrical equipment, which is safer and less labor intensive.

Whitewash

During the firing process, the clay toy acquires a red-brown color. Before applying ornaments, the figure needs to be whitewashed.

For whitewashing, a solution is used, consisting of crushed chalk diluted in milk. When the milk turns sour, the solution becomes solid, covering the entire surface of the figurine with an even layer.

Despite attempts to improve the composition and method of its application, the old tradition of whitewashing is still preserved. Experiments with the composition were unsuccessful: it was not possible to achieve an ideal white color, and the new solutions themselves dried out unevenly. True, in some cases it is possible to deviate from tradition. For example, when children paint clay toys with their own hands, you can whitewash them with ordinary gouache.

Dymkovo toy colors

When the whitewash has dried, you can start painting. Patterns are applied to the toy with bright colors.

The color range is quite limited, the following colors are used:

• blue,
• crimson,
• green,
• yellow,
• Orange
• brown.

If you dilute the primary colors with chalk, you can get additional shades. For example, diluted blue turns into cyan.

The old masters did not paint with brushes, but with a wooden stick wrapped in linen shreds. Such a tool allowed them to make only the simplest elements of the ornament: lines, rhombuses, circles, zigzags. Today, when painting, brushes from the hair of a ferret or column are used.

To add shine to the figure, a raw egg is added to the paint. The final touch is the decoration of toys with small figures carved from leaves of gold leaf.

There is a certain tradition of painting:

1. On the face of a little man, eyebrows and round eyes are indicated with black paint.
2. Raspberry paint is used to draw the mouth and cheeks.
3. For hair coloring, black or brown is chosen.
4. On the skirts of female figurines and animal skins, the ornament is applied on a white coating; shirts, headdresses are monophonic.

Dymkovo painting

The ornament consists of various geometric shapes:

• stripes,
• rhombuses and zigzags,
• circles and stripes.

The pattern is not invented in advance, it appears already during the painting and depends on the size and image of the toy. Therefore, the craftswomen say that the form and decor are closely related, and there are no two absolutely identical toys.

The figures drawn on the toys seem simple and uncomplicated, but the ornament of Dymkovo toys is symbolic.

The wavy line resembles a river, a water surface, a circle with a dot - the sun, cells from intersecting lines - a log house. All these concepts occupy an important place in the picture of the world of a Russian person.

Dymkovo painting in kindergarten and school

The study of the Dymkovo toy is included in the curriculum in children's creative studios and art schools. They also pay attention to it in the visual arts classes in kindergarten and secondary school.

This folk craft is part of the history of our country, and bright figures decorated with symbolic ornaments can tell a lot about the life and worldview of our ancestors.

The painting of the Dymkovo toy in a simplified form is available to young children who are interested in drawing small rhombuses, circles, stripes on animal figures. Older children can even try to fashion a toy according to the Dymkovo canons themselves.

Dymkovo toy in the XXI century

No matter how technology develops, the famous Dymkovo craft is still handmade. Craftsmen create toys, carefully preserving ancient traditions. Therefore, each figurine is unique. Dymkovo toys have been made for centuries and remain popular, being not only souvenirs, but also keepers of people's memory, a symbol of Russian folk culture.

Currently, both enthusiasts and various organizations take care of the safety of the famous folk craft. In 2010, in the center of the city of Kirov, with the support of Megafon, a monument dedicated to the Dymkovo toy was erected. It represents a family consisting of a mother with a baby in her arms, a peasant playing the harmonica, a boy with a whistle, as well as a cat and a dog. All figures are made in the classic Dymkovo style.

The Dymkovo toy was among the treasures of Russian art presented at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014.

Child and folk toys

Folk toys not only of Dymkovo, but also of other crafts contain great opportunities for the development of the child and his aesthetic and moral education. Made by human hands, the figurines are unique and retain a particle of the master's soul. But often the problem is that, surrounded by bright modern mass-produced toys, children simply do not know what to do with folk toys. Parents can help their child learn to “communicate” with a Dymkovo or Filimonovo toy.

• Real folk toys made of clay and wood can be offered to a child at a very early age. Toddlers 1.5-2 years old will be interested in whistling, rattling bright figures, older children will join the story game with them.
• In an accessible form, a child can be introduced to the history of the origin of the craft, to tell how toys are made. Today there are many colorful publications dedicated to folk art that can illustrate the story.
• Come up with a variety of figurine games with your child. Folk toys contain many images, plots, themes from the life of people and animals. With their help, you can embody plots from Russian folk tales on your home mini-stage or come up with your own stories.
• Today, many sets for children's creativity are produced, among them there are also dedicated to folk patterns and toys. The child will be happy to color the Dymkovo lamb or try to fashion a cockerel. And, who knows, maybe a do-it-yourself Dymkovo toy fashioned by a child today will turn into a favorite hobby or even a profession.

Dymkovo toy (coloring)

We hope that our story about the Dymkovo toy inspired you not only to convey information about this amazing folk art to your children or pupils, but also to try to recreate the process of making clay crafts at home or in an educational institution.

Dymkovo toy. (Presentation/video/film/Kirov)