On September 19, the Russian House in Brussels hosted a family workshop dedicated to Gorodets painting. Participants transformed ordinary wooden apples into vibrant decorative pieces, blending the traditions of Russian folk art with a contemporary creative approach.

At the start of the workshop, participants discovered the cultural significance of the apple in Russia and revisited famous fairy-tale motifs—such as youth-restoring apples, the magic apple rolling on a silver saucer, and the story from Alexander Pushkin’s “The Tale of the Dead Princess and the Seven Knights.” In folk traditions, a rosy apple symbolizes health, prosperity, and well-being in the home. Thus, the finished work became much more than a lovely craft—it turned into a unique charm for the house.

The practical session centered on the famous Gorodets painting style. Participants were offered an unusual twist on the traditional technique: keeping the natural texture of the wood exposed as an integral part of the decorative composition.

The painting was carried out in stages. First came the podmalyovok (underpainting)—simple colored circles applied directly to the wooden base. Next, tenyovka (shading) was added using dark arches. The final touch was ozhivka (animation/highlighting): delicate white strokes and dots that give the pattern its vividness and festive charm.

Special attention was given to working with acrylic paints on natural wood. Since wood absorbs moisture quickly, participants were advised to keep their brushes nearly dry and apply the paint quite thickly.

As a result, each participant created their own one-of-a-kind “Gorodets apple”—a blend of traditional decorative art, natural wood texture, and modern artistic expression.