Learn the ancient art of Pysanky
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Technical
Classes cover the wax resist technique of writing, use of aniline dyes, and various wax removal options. Basic divisions, and symbols integral to the traditional pysanky are the focus of the beginner class.
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Cultural
Traditional pysanky are considered talisman, holding intention in symbol and color combination. Beginner classes will cover the cultural (and spiritual) significance of the art form.
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Accessible
All materials for class are provided, including egg “canvasses”: white and brown chicken eggs (or goose, turkey, duck or quail in advanced classes), kistky (wax writing stylus), beeswax and dyes, candles, heat gun, and other required materials.
Beginner Pysanky Class - $350
Basic wax resist techniques, combined with cultural history of the Pysanky introduces the foundational aspects of the art form.
4 hour class for up to 10 adults.
All materials provided
Host at your home or location of choice.
Class is taught on white or brown chicken egg, design penciled onto shell in advance.
Participants work on the same design, and once complete are invited to create another Pysanka of their own creative vision or inspiration.
Beginner Pysanky Class w/kit- $400
Basic wax resist techniques, combined with cultural history of the Pysanky introduces the foundational aspects of the art form.
4 hour class for up to 10 adults.
All materials provided, including individual Pysanky Kits (1 kistka, 1 block of beeswax, 6 dye packets, instructions, ordered by Instructor in advance) which participants take home with them to start their own pysanky practice.
Host at your home or location of choice.
Class is taught on white or brown chicken egg, design penciled onto shell in advance.
Participants work on the same design, and once complete are invited to create another Pysanka of their own creative vision or inspiration.
advanced Pysanky Class - $450
This class explores different egg canvases (goose, duck, turkey, quail), as well as advanced techniques like wash backs, color blending, and starting with a dyed canvas. This is NOT a beginner class, and is preferable for individuals who have a basic understanding of pysanky, who write pysanky and are seeking to level up in how they approach the art form, or who are seeking to learn the nuances of using an egg canvas other than chicken egg.
4 hour class for up to 10 adults.
All materials provided — class will choose which egg canvas to work from (turkey, goose, duck or quail)
Host at your home or location of choice.
Participants create a Pysanka of their own creative vision or inspiration. Instructor will provide reference materials.
In pre-Christian times of Ukraine, the sun god was the most important of all the deities; birds were the sun god’s chosen creations as they were the only beings who could get close to him. the eggs the birds laid – a source of life – were considered to be magical objects.
FAQs
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check back later….
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This is not your average Easter egg. At their most basic, Pysanky are art pieces. In honor of their heritage, Pysanky are cultural fork art and meditative expressions of the celebration of life, seasons, and even protective talisman. Eggs are either emptied and clean in advance, whole (raw) and emptied after the art is applied, or left whole (raw) to dry out naturally depending on the preference of the egg writer.
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Traditionally, Pysanky are dyed and designs/symbols/intentions written onto the dyed shell using melted beeswax. Advanced egg writers will sometimes apply dye to their designs with paintbrush or cotton swab, but Pysanky are written and dyed, not painted.
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For materials to make Pysanky (these are the businesses I buy from for my supplies):
For more information about the cultural heritage of the art form, these are websites worth exploring:
Gail Lambda’s piece for Martha Stewart Magazine
Luba Petrusha’s online respository of Pysanky as Folk Art of Ukraine.