Khokhloma painting was named after the place where it originated – the village of Khokhloma of Kovernino district of the Nizhny Novgorod region. In the 17th century very smart plates and dishes were made there and then delivered to the Tsar’s court. The products were characterized by the peculiar and poetic plant pattern, the festive and solemn colouring and the strict simplicity of the form.

The main colours used in the painting are red, black and gold. The combination of the colours that originally was used in icon painting is very symbolic: red is the colour of the power, gold is the colour of the quest, prosperity and holy firing, black is the colour of the veil that opens way to the eternal life, the colour of the spiritual purification. These colours of Khokhloma, as scientists believe, help to get rid of stress, and their effect may be compared to the perception of a river flowing quietly or a peaceful flame.

For many centuries the masters preserve the art of the “village” Khokhloma and pass it to new generations. Fyodor Bedin, Arkhip Serov, Semyon Yuzikov, Stepan Veselov, brothers Fyodor and Stepan Krasilnikov, Nikolay, Nikandr and Anatoliy Podogov, Ivan and Alexey Tyukalov have become the patriarchs of Khokhloma art.

Very often the profession gave birth to first and family names of handicraftsmen. Thus, the profession of a painter determined the change of the family name Onisimov from Bezdel village (now it is Novopokrovskoe) to the name “Krasilnikov” (in translation from Russian – “the one who paints”). The Krasilnikovs was a specially respected family. As early as in the 18th century Mikhail Krasilnikov, at the Tsar court’s order, made a big table and painted it in Khokhloma style. At this table the Emperor received foreign ambassadors.

Later Fyodor Krasilnikov received a traditional gift from the monarch - a golden watch – “for high artistic value of the things submitted to His Majesty". The Krasilnikov dynasty had five golden watches of the kind.

“Khokhloma Painter” JSC is located in Syomino village, in 7 km from Khokhloma village. In March 1919 individual craftsmen united into spoon-painting artels. This date is believed to be the date of the birth of “Khokhloma Painter” enterprise – an enterprise of hereditary craftsmen. “Khokhloma Painter” JSC is an enterprise of hereditary masters. 13 Honored Artists of Russia and 3 People’s Artists of Russia have received the highest qualification at the company and got recognition.

The range of products of the company includes over 300: utinsils, small barrels, cups, ladles, sets for honey, bliny, cakes, etc. The main element of the company’s symbol is a bird. Why a bird? Because it is a symbol of freedom, it means a flight, it means scope... It means Russia!

In the village of Syomino, Kovernino district of the Nizhny Novgorod region, in the very center of the famous handicraft – Khokhloma painting on wood – “Promysel” limited liability company operates.
The company produces mainly wooden boxes with Khokhloma painting, as well as wooden packing of various kinds of wood for tea, wine, sweets, books, cold steel and other products.

The staff of the company comprises 75 highly qualified specialists and painters who are very skilled in painting on wood. The majority of the painters are apprentices and disciples of People's Artist of Russia Alexandra Karpova and Honored Artist of Russia Olga Lushina.
The creative process at the enterprise is carried out under supervision of famous Khokhloma painter Elena Zdorova.