Thanks to the program of international cooperation between the Gzhel State University and the Kazakh Abay National Pedagogical University, third-year students Alena Smirnova and Ulyana Magomedova studied during the semester in Almaty.

At the university, we attended classes in academic drawing and painting, ceramics, academic sculpture, painting on silk, art history. Classes were held in a cozy and relaxed atmosphere, conducive to creative ideas and their implementation, teachers were ready to help in implementing almost any ideas.

The ceramics workshop at the university is very small, but it provides many opportunities in the work. In the main, we molded by hand or washed away the forms made by us with red clay. In painting, they mastered the letter with oil paints. Here it was possible to master the painting on silk in the technique of cold, hot and nodal batik, and graphic painting with a pen on primed fabric, and jewelry. We learned to make ornaments from silver and silver-nickel, they themselves designed products in the national style and embodied their creative ideas in life. This direction is very popular in the university, a lot of incredibly beautiful works inspired and motivated to learn as much as possible ways and methods of working with metals. We learned how to cast silverware, learned the features of various metals, mastered the principles of soldering jewelry, oxidizing and various ways of inserting stones. The final work was the creation of a jewelry set of silver in the national style.

On October 5th, 2017, we visited the opening of a solo exhibition of the head of the department of creative professions of the professor, a member of the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan Tokkoj Kozhagulov, "Ancient Music" (silent music), timed to the 90th anniversary of the Abai University, in the Central State Museum. At the opening ceremony, cultural and art figures, heads of creative unions, artists, art critics spoke. This helped to form an idea of the artist`s work, the history of the creation of works presented at the exhibition.

On November 17th, 2017 we took part in a scientific conference and the opening of an exhibition of creative works of students of the Institute of Arts, Culture and Sports. In the exhibition hall of the University were represented more than 50 works, which reflect the national flavor.

A lot of interesting and useful gave a visit to the State Museum named after Kasteev - the largest art museum of the country and the leading research and cultural and educational center in the field of fine arts.

Acquaintance with the culture, traditions of Kazakhstan promoted the use of national motives in creative works. Picturesque landscapes of Almaty were inspired for walks, which resulted in numerous sketches.

We are grateful to the leadership of the university for the opportunity to study in Kazakhstan, believe that this is an invaluable experience and an excellent opportunity to gain new skills and impressions that contribute to the creative development of the artist.

Alena Smirnova and Uliana Magomedova,

students of the faculty of arts and crafts and design