PYSANKY BASICS by MAGGIE
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Transferring a Motif More Than Once

12/31/2013

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This This Trypillian egg has a repeated wolf  on each of the four quadrants.

Instead of free-hand drawing each one you can trace and transfer the image to each of the four sections, using one traced template that you make with a piece of tissue paper.  




​Egg design attribution: 

https://www.pysanky.info/Ukrainian_Pysanky/Nontraditional/Pages/Trypillian.html#38


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How to Measure a Star Motif

6/10/2013

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Teacher Tip:  Show a Range of Egg Sizes 

12/10/2012

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BEREHYNIA  the GODDESS

12/5/2012

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how_to_draw_out_the_goddess.pdf
File Size: 898 kb
File Type: pdf
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This traditional pattern is one of oldest motifs, the berehynia is a female protective goddess; the name may derive from either "berehty" (to protect/preserve) or "bereh" (river bank).  The berehyni may have been water spirits or nymphs, but were local deities(not some great Mother Goddess).

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Complex Patterns to Print Out

12/5/2012

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Complex Patterns to Print Out  Here are nine separate complex patterns you can use on an egg.  You can click on the image
to print it out. 
 When you print the page out you can see that the complex image is made up of repeated small images, transcribed onto an individual square.  I recommend that you use a large size egg to for complex patterns.  
First measure out the surface of the egg into squares(begin from a center band). Select one of the  patterns, then look for the one square motif,  that keeps getting repeated. Practice on a piece of graph paper or measure out four squares to practice your pattern before you draw it out on the egg. Do not be fooled into thinking these patterns are too difficult.   It is simply “one square” repeated onto the     square pre-measured out on you egg. Look for another example in this blog for the "Double Wedding Ring" pattern. 



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Why I Like to Work on Raw Eggs

11/27/2012

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Why I Like to Work on Raw Eggs 
They Sink in the Dye Better! 
I only work on raw eggs.  As you can see in the photo, the egg sinks to the bottom of the dye.  I do not have to hold the egg down in the dye.  So I get a strong even color, with no marks left on the egg.  Some artists hold the egg down the(floating) blown egg with an inverted shot glass or other methods.  This can  distress the wax, smudging it or even removing  XX Fine lines.  It can leave you distressed, lol!

I generally apply one coat of varnish, let it cure for 24 hours, and then drain the egg.  I apply a second coat or more. 
I have been experimenting with leaving the egg un-blown for smaller eggs, like chicken and turkey.  But have not done so with goose eggs.  Please see my blog on Un-Blown eggs.



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Displaying Pysanky Photos on a Digital Frame

11/12/2012

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Displaying Pysanky Photos on a Digital
Frame
   I met a pysanky artist, at my Ukrainian Center bazaar, who created a slide show of her work using a digital frame.   My first instinct was that the frame would be useful for my pysanky classes, to demonstrate a processes or to show past class photos, or show my own pysanky. 
In the photo to the left,  I am demonstrating at an art school open house.   Several people stopped to watch my demo and many watched the digital slide show, which were slides of a previous class of 17 held at this center.  
What frame should I buy?  I researched "digital frames" by going to stores like Target, Best Buy, Walmart, etc., to look at  frame sizes on the market. I opened boxes, I read the descriptions, and  finally chose a 10.1" HP, which stores up to 1250 photos, that was within my price range.  If you find any frame size smaller, it is too difficult to see  details in photos. 
Be sure to buy a frame that allows you to insert a memory card and memory stick!   This will enable you to fix up your images in Photoshop and then move them to the frame via a memory stick.  Also look for a frame that has a USB port connector, so that you can upload photos directly from your laptop or Ipad.  The smaller models don't have the port cable. 
Organizing Photos   You can organize photos into folders for different slide shows.  You can adjust the speed, transitions, etc, just like with any computer slide show.
Down-side  My digital frame only works by pugging it in to an outlet, it does not work on batteries.  So I always carry an extension cord,  in case I am not set up close to an outlet.

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What is the Best Way to Hold a Kistka While Writing

5/17/2012

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There is no "right way" or "wrong way" to hold a kistka, but I believe that there is a better way.  The kistka is similar to a fountain pen, and if you hold it as you do a regular pen, I believe that your writing will be steadier.  Please remember not to "sketch" as you write, but to rotate the egg as you write-thus making the lines longer and steadier, as you rotate the egg.  Below are two photographs suggesting a better way and a weaker way to hold the kistka while writing.
I have read about other ways of holding the kistka, such as gripping it as you would a toothbrush, but it is left up to the pysanky writer to find what is most comfortable, for writing crisp lines. 
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A "Recommended Way" to hold a kistka, gripping the kistka closer to the funnel. 

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Holding the kistka too close to the end, away from the funnel, can cause weaker lines.

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    On occasion I share images that come from other sources and do my best to provided artist credit and a link to them whenever possible. Should you use an image I've re-posted from another source, then please follow the "Terms of Use" from that image's creator/owner and give credit to the image's  originator.

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    by Maggie Tarris Bauer

    I am of Ukrainian and Polish ancestry, 2nd generation American, who grew up in an ethnic household and neighborhood in Passaic, NJ.   Keeping with tradition, I learned to write pysanky as a young girl and continue to work on my passion for pysanky.  I teach classes and demonstrate the art year-round.

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