Drop Pull Class Preparation

When I teach a class on Lemko Drop-Pull pysanka, I have several ideas for preparation: 
#1.  A pre-divided egg, with a basic "rosette" to begin students' learning 
#2.  Take-home motif handout (included in fee), which the student can use for elaborating the class egg. 
#3.  A paper plate, with penciled-in motifs to practice on, before applying strokes with the stylus to the egg
#4.  A small take-home cardboard stencil of circles (of various sizes), used for tracing onto follow-up eggs.
#5.  Take-home #1 drop-pull stylus, and wax melter with bees wax/tea lite included(this is included in the class fee)

#1. A pre-divided egg, with a basic "rosette" to launch a student's creativity.

#2 I made a worksheet with more simplified motifs for beginners.

#2 Lemko patterns: From the Vera Manko portfolio-link to buying her book.

#3. I pre-draw some typical motifs in pencil. The students can trace over in wax, and also invent their own patterns on the paper plate.

#4. I make index card templates for students to use and then take home if they wish.

#5. Take-home( #1 drop-pull stylus), and wax melter with bees wax/tea lite included(this is included in the class fee). You can also not sell these and just use them for each class. I have a set for this purpose.

There are many sizes of drop-pull tools but the best for teaching a beginner class is the #1 stylus

It is important to have the students practice first.  There is a rhythm to the strokes:  

• Heat Stylus Over Candle-try not to use a tea-light, as its heat is low
• Dip Heated Stylus into Melted Wax-
• Practice on Paper Plate-Drop...Pull the stroke
• Finally, Write Onto Egg...repeat the pattern
  

The first two photos show me demonstrating to the class, how to practice on a paper plate before going onto the egg.  You can see in the third photo, that I have pre-traced two egg shapes in pencil, as practice.  Then students continue to wax over the design and improvise on their own.  The purpose is to establish a comfort level with using the stylus and melted wax, before applying it to the raw egg. 

As I demo the strokes , I repeat out loud-"Drop…Pull-Drop…Pull", trying to show that there is a rhythm to the strokes.

A student's creativity is boundless…her own pattern!