Pysanky is a traditional craft in Ukraine and Poland. The method is similar to batik - patterns are drawn on the egg with wax, which then protects the covered areas from the dye that is applied. By repeating this process with different colors of dye, a multi-colored pattern is built up. Finally, the wax is removed to reveal the colors that were covered up at each stage. A layer of polyurethane can be added over the finished egg to protect the dyed design and to give a gloss finish.
Traditionally, the eggs were left whole. They would eventually dry out and become light. Some of my eggs are left whole, in keeping with tradition. Some of my eggs are blown to allow them to be hung as ornaments.
to see many other examples of these eggs, check out my Pysanky gallery on Flickr
Traditionally, the eggs were left whole. They would eventually dry out and become light. Some of my eggs are left whole, in keeping with tradition. Some of my eggs are blown to allow them to be hung as ornaments.
to see many other examples of these eggs, check out my Pysanky gallery on Flickr
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials Needed:
Eggs
Pure Beeswax Block
Candle
Kistka
Dyes
Pencil
Heat Tool (optional)
Paper Towels
Before you begin, WASH YOUR HANDS! Oils on your hands can get on the egg shells and cause uneven dyeing. It helps to make sure your hands are clean before you start handling the eggs.
always start with room temperature eggs. cold eggs will sweat marring your pencil lines or your dye.
Pure Beeswax Block
Candle
Kistka
Dyes
Pencil
Heat Tool (optional)
Paper Towels
Before you begin, WASH YOUR HANDS! Oils on your hands can get on the egg shells and cause uneven dyeing. It helps to make sure your hands are clean before you start handling the eggs.
always start with room temperature eggs. cold eggs will sweat marring your pencil lines or your dye.
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but with either of those options you are probably going to have to buy by the pound. for pysanky, you need only a very small block of wax. if you check out any of the pysanky shops online, you can get small blocks of wax... but more expensive per ounce than the by the pound route.
my favorite online shop is the Ukrainian gift shop. http://www.ukrainiangiftshop.com/
this is a special dye for pysanky from the ukrainian gift shop. it is an aniline dye and not food safe (so no eating the eggs after!)
there is also a tradition of painted wood eggs from Russia and the Ukrainian. you could definitely transfer these design ideas onto a wooden egg. i'm not sure the wax process would work so well though... seems to me the wax would stick in the porous grain of the wood when you went to remove it... plus the dyes would wick along the grain under the wax.....
to me, the wooden eggs and other replica style eggs lose something... the spirit of ephemeral and delicate nature of the eggs is lost. they feel heavy and clumsy in comparison.
good luck with your experimentations!
the major source (where anyone local would be getting them anyway) is the Ukrainian Gift Shop. the dyes are aniline dyes like those used for silk and bond to the protein in the shells. while you concievably could use the paas dyes, they are very light to begin with and would most likely fade very quickly. seems like a lot of work for something that won't last...
The blue colors look awesome....
also, paraffin is a petroleum product. it can sometimes exude a bit of oil this can get on you fingers while holding the egg and transfer to other area of the design. even though those ares have not been waxed, those oily fingerprints will effect the way the dye takes to the shell.
a raw egg left whole will eventually dry out by releasing gasses through the shell.
if you seal the egg after dying, you can blow the egg, but still be able to have a whole egg that sinks in the dye for the design process. do not blow the egg without sealing! the dyes will run.
or you can dye a blown egg by sealing the ends with a bit of wax.