Lev Alexandrovich Fomichev (1932-2018) was an honorary member of Russian Academy of Arts, a people’s artist of RF, one of the leading masters of Mstyora miniature lacquer painting. He communicated a lot with the founders of Vladimir painting school Kim Britov and Vladimir Yukin. 

Love of Mstyora landscapes brought them together and interest in decorative painting was always in the center of their attention. We don’t know what they talked about exactly but we can suppose that.

Issues of decorative techniques of painting for miniature lacquer painting masters consist in connection of color and composition with the subject. Illusiveness in depth of space rendering for miniature painting is not a goal in itself as it is illusiveness that contravenes perception of corporeality of the object. That is a fundamental condition of decorative and applied arts.

Teachers of Mstyora art vocational school used to instruct their students to subdue nature to decorative tasks with full confidence. As, for example, in the icons when painting nature (shapes of trees and upland), people (their positions and gestures) much attention was paid to their silhouettes. 

Miniature lacquer painting masters consider plot painting not only as developing of a theme or an idea but often as an element of ornamental decoration of the object. Lev Fomichev’s small box with miniature lacquer painting “A fight” is a great example of the popular theme.