PYSANKY

“Pysanky are said to possess curative powers for both men and animals. With the acceptance of Christianity in 988 A.D., the pysanka has been part of the Christian tradition and Easter ritual. The pysanka came to symbolize the rebirth of man, as represented by the Resurrection.” ( From Google) 

I THINK I HAVE BEEN CREATING ‘PYSANKY’ OR (MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS) ‘UKRANIAN EGGS’  FOR AT LEAST 10  YEARS OR SO NOW. 

ON FRIDAYS I USED TO VOLUNTEER AT THE MARIAN CENTRE DOWNTOWN .  MADONNA HOUSE HAS FED AND CLOTHED THE HUNGRY FOR YEARS AND YEARS IN OUR CITY OF EDMONTON.  WHEN IT BECAME A LITTLE TOO DIFFICULT FOR ME TO STAND SO LONG CHOPPING VEGETABLES FOR SOUP OR EVEN DOLING IT OUT AT LUNCHTIME  I WAS INVITED TO PRAY FOR THE MISSION AND PAINT IN THE UPPER ROOM .

THIS WONDERFUL ‘FAMILY’ INVITES US ( TERRY AND I ) TO LEAVE OUR EASLES , PAINTS, CANVASSES , ETC. , THERE AND TO COME BACK WEEKLY TO CREATE ART.  SOMETIMES SOMEONE IS SEWING NEAR US . SOMETIMES A PERSON IS WORKING ON THEIR LOOM OR THEIR POTTERY PROJECT. THERE IS ALWAYS A CREATIVE THING HAPPENING THERE AS THEIR FOUNDRESS , CATHERINE DOHERTY, ENCOURAGED THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPIRIT, BODY AND CREATIVITY TOO. 

ONE DAY WHEN I ARRIVED, THERE WAS AN ENTIRE, LARGE TABLE SET UP FOR THE CREATION OF PYSANKY.   ALL THE DYE JARS WERE IN PLACE, THE ALREADY BLOWN EGGS,  INSTRUCTION BOOKS , INSTRUMENTS FOR DRAWING , AND AN INSTRUCTOR TOO ! 

SINCE MY VERY FIRST EGG I HAVE BEEN HOOKED ON THIS PROCESS.   IT IS SLOW.  IT IS DETAILED.  AND AFTER TERRY TRIED IT HE SAID HE WOULD RATHER POUR HOT TAR UP HIS NOSE THAN TRY IT AGAIN.  HA HA HA. 

BUT I LOVE IT !   

I WAS SO NERVOUS AT FIRST AND WORRIED THAT I MIGHT DROP THE EGG (WHICH I NEVER DID !) AND MY HANDS WERE SO SHAKY WHILE DRAWING THE INITIAL DIVISIONS WITH PENCIL ON THE EGG.

 AFTER THE DRAWING YOU LIGHT YOUR CANDLE AND START ‘DRAWING’ WITH WAX THAT COMES OUT OF A KISTKA  ( A TINY PIPE LIKE INSTRUMENT ) . YOU MUST HEAT THE KISTKA SO THAT THE BEESWAX SOFTENS ENOUGH TO DRIP OUT OF THE POINTED END.

WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED DRAWING ( WITH WAX) ALL THAT YOU WOULD HAVE REMAIN WHITE ( IF IT’S A WHITE EGG) OR BROWN ( IF THE EGG IS BROWN)  THEN YOU POP IT IN THE FIRST DYE WHICH IS YELLOW ( USUALLY) .

THEN , AFTER YOU REMOVE IT FROM THE DYE JAR WITH TOOLS FOR THIS ( OR A SPOON) , YOU COVER ALL THAT WOULD REMAIN YELLOW , DYE THE NEXT DARKEST COLOUR , AND ON AND ON – DRAWING AND DYING-  UNTIL THE WHOLE EGG IS RATHER BLACK WITH WAX. 

YOU FIRST REMOVE THE ‘PLUG’ WHICH IS A WAX KNOT THAT PLUGGED THE INITIAL BLOWN EGG HOLE THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE SO NO DYES WOULD LEAK IN AND WRECK THE EGG. YOU DO THIS BY HOLDING THE TIP OF THE EGG OVER A CANDLE FLAME. 

THEN ONE CAREFULLY PUTS THE SIDE OF THE EGG NEAR THE FLAME TO MELT THE WAX COVERING, WIPE THE MELTING WAX WITH A SOFT CLOTH , AND REPEAT ALL OVER THE EGG UNTIL THE DESIGN EMERGES. 

IT IS LIKE OPENING A PRESENT WHEN I GET TO SEE THE COLOURS EMERGE.  IT ALSO SHOWS ME HOW SHAKY MY HAND STILL IS WHEN I DRAW WITH THE TINY KISTKA BUT I DON’T MIND THE MISTAKES.  I THINK THE PYSANKY EGGS ARE BEAUTIFUL, SO FRAGILE , AND A GREAT REMINDER OF THE HOLIEST SEASON OF THE YEAR : EASTER …. A TIME OF SPRING REBIRTH ! 

THE LAST STEP IS TO CLEAN THE EGG WITH MINERAL SPIRITS AND THEN SEAL THE EGG WITH VARATHANE .

THEY MAKE WONDERFUL GIFTS AND I ENJOY DISPLAYING MY FAIRLY LARGE COLLECTION OF UKRAINIAN EGGS AT EASTER TIME. 

USUALLY I WOULD DO ONE EGG A WEEK ALL THROUGH LENT BUT BECAUSE SPIRITLINE IS BACK ON TOUR IN A WEEK I MADE A FEW EXTRA TRIPS DOWNTOWN TO CREATE THE EGGS ABOVE.   

SAD TO HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER WHOLE YEAR BEFORE I GET TO PAINT ON THESE WEE CANVASSES AGAIN BUT I AM ALSO EXCITED ABOUT SHARING OUR MUSIC AGAIN TOO. 

ADVENTURES AWAIT IF YOU LOOK FOR THEM !