Interview
with Larissa
QUESTION: Larissa, it’s clear, that your first teacher in painting was your mother, Goncharova Nina Nikolayevna. And what professional school did you finish to become an artist?L.G.: Yes, you are right. My mother taught me painting, when I studied at school. I was dazzled by those flowers and I didn’t hesitate choosing my future profession. In the year 09.1975 I went to the Moscow Art - Industrial School. In 1979 I finished it and returned to Jostovo factory, where I have been working since that time.
QUESTION: When you paint your trays do you carry out all the operations?
L.G.: Of course, not. There is a process in which a whole team of specialists takes part. They are:
a press operator;
a primer;
an artist;
an ornament designer;
a lacquerer.
Working at home in my painter’s studio I carry out all the operations by myself except pressing or hand forging.QUESTION: Decorating trays needs some supplies. Are there any constant providers of goods for your handicraft?
L.G.: Yes. The tray is made of metal. In this field we work closely with Vtorchermet (with Metal Recycling Company). Oil and acryl paints, squirrel-hair brushes are delivered from Saint-Petersburg.
QUESTION: Larissa, you have been working as an artist for a long time. Can you name the main problem for all folk trades in Russia and in Moscow region?L.G.: Folk Art Trades can’t exist without any state support, without special conditions for their development. A lot of folk trades were given to private owners, and they take care of profits only. Creative artists and enthusiasts are working individually, but our government doesn’t support them.
QUESTION: Is there anything can help solve all the problems?
L.G.: During the appearance of our handicraft the artists united in co-operative craft societies. That helped our trade to survive and to develop. A person, who makes such a wonderful thing as a Jostovo tray should have an opportunity to command finance, because he or she knows all the wants of flow process from inside.
QUESTION: Does the Jostovo trade have its own problems?
L.G.: If to speak about problems of our trade, they will exist despite the financing. They are forging and paints quality, bad brushes. And the main problem is the law of copyright. It works badly in our country but, it doesn’t work for our trade at all.