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While working on Drapanki, the scratch method, residue of dye can get on your hands and be removed from the shell; thus an un-even appearance. Find a simple cotton glove at a dollar store. Wash the glove occasionally to keep it clean. 
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I find it practical to set up for a class in "stations" that are in order of the process, and easier for discussing each step. Taking photos every time you teach is a big help as reference, for the next time you teach. I have taught classes as large as 27 and as small as 5. But whether large or small, it is important to a new student's to create a climate conducive to a rich and rewarding pysanky experience. If you are a 'new' pysanky teacher, here are some tips for creating a great First Time Experience for you and for your students, space-wise. SPACES ORGANIZATION: Dye work space, Student work space, Teacher group& individual instruction space, Outdoor Airing space for spray varnish, Refreshments space. I EXPLAIN TO THE CLASS THAT ADDING THE PATTERN ONTO THE EGG SHELL IS NOT "ROCKET SCIENCE"! THE PATTERN IS REPEATED IN EACH QUADRANT. Using a large demonstration egg is most helpful for the visual learner.
photo #1 Removing the wax with a cut piece cloth, which hospital ORs throw away; these are good because they have a bite to the weave and pick up the wax.
#2 I remove any pencil line with a white eraser.
#3 Look at the white wolves teeth pattern-do you see some black bits? I scrape those away with a blade.
Will I Varnish the goose egg? I might leave this as is-it already has a nice bees wax patina.
There may be students who enjoy melting off the wax at the end of the process, while other would prefer another method. This post is for you, the teacher to decide what methods you will have available.  EMBOSSING GUN
 CARDBOARD COFFEE HOLDERS can be most useful when removing wax with a hair dryer or heat gun. Line each section with a paper towel, coffee filter, etc., to absorb the wax.  Thanks to Tetyana Solotska for the photo and idea HEAT GUN SET UP I found this clever idea on social media. The teacher of this pysanky class in Japan is not allowed to use any candle power, no flames allowed, during class. Instead she mounts a heat gun and is able to have students remove wax safely.
 TOASTER OVEN Pre-heat oven to 200-º or toaster oven to 180 º Place finished pysanky into a silicone muffin pan. Time the eggs for 10 minutes, no longer. The wax collects in the bottom, and when it cools, you can just pop the excess wax out! You can also place a circle of paper toweling or a circle of coffee filter, in the bottom of each muffin space to absorb the wax (paper does not burn at low temperatures). Finally, remove and wipe each pysanky with a clean soft tissue, if a lot of wax remains, repeat the process.  HAIR DRYER What may be the safest way to remove wax when teaching children, is a simple hair dryer. When students are ready to remove wax, send them to a table with 1 0r 2 hair dryers, for a quick demonstration. Place the egg in a basket, on a coffee filter; the child may have a better control when removing wax.  ALCOHOL JEWELERS LAMP Some recommend a small alcohol jewelers lamp. No soot and the adjustable flame is really low and hot. Safer than an open candle. It is also useful when working out doors in spite of any wind.
CANDLES Some classes provide candles for the students. Others ask the students to bring a candle and holder; inevitably, they bring a taper(too long) or tea lite(not hot enough). Be sure your students bring a candle stub.
 This is like an old dish cloth. When teaching I use candles to remove wax. But more important is that I give each person a cut piece of cloth that has some "bite" to it; like in the picture. I feel that paper towels, TP, only pushes the wax around and does not lift it, so wax is left behind on the egg.  SCORCHED EGG
For a scorched egg a bottle of Goo Gon and a q-tip can remove the mark. Try to demonstrate that the candle flame is adjacent to the egg; and the egg is not placed in the flame. Recently on social media someone asked “How do you get the word out about your pysanky classes? I have mostly sent emails to homeschool groups that I or friends have been part of. Is it worthwhile to advertise in community papers?” Established Art/Craft Schools/Studios There are established art and craft schools, where professionals and amatures, both teach and take classes. These classes can be for a longer period of several days/sessions. Many times there is a link for teaching on the website, that will address your questions. One spring, when I was visiting New England, I started looking for craft schools. I found an interesting place and did a cold call, bringing along a basket of my eggs. The director was kind enough to see me and hired me for that summer. It was a 3 day course, that included a stipend, travel expenses, lodging, meals and a lab assistant-who worked the open lab in the evenings. The following year, I was contacted by another prominent school, which had seen that I was on staff at the New England school the previous summer. They contacted me by email and hired me (for three seasons). In this case I didn’t have to promote myself, as they found me online. I volunteered for the school’s opening day season launching, demonstrating egg writing, hoping to recruit students for the summer session. Benefits: these venues do their own advertising, enroll students online, you are under contract, so get paid; some pay for travel expenses, with an open lab run by an assistant. Because classes are longer students get to work on several eggs, which brings out a high level of enthusiasm and creativity. Community Art Schools/Centers Go online and search community art centers within 30 miles of where you live. These smaller schools have fine art classes all year round. Often there is a link for teaching on the website. Contact the director via email. A follow up telephone call makes a personal touch, asking if they would set up and appointment in person for you to show your craft and discuss teaching a class. Benefits: they advertise, enroll students online and collect fees; you often negotiate a stipend for teaching Church Groups You may want to hold a class at your own church center; search for an ethnic eastern European church is practical, if this is your first experience. Many of the members may have written pysanky or remembered a family member, who wrote pysanky, so interest level can be higher. Ask the web master to add the class information to their website. Benefits: people have strong interest in tradition
Local Museums Search for museums within the radius of where you are willing to travel. Many museums are currently holding family days and are interested in demonstrations or people who are willing to teach all ages. Contact the curator. Follow up calls are useful and practical if you haven’t heard back in a while. Benefits: enthusiasm is high, interest in history and tradition Senior Citizen Centers/Retirement Centers Meet with the recreational director. Bring your eggs or even photos of previous classes on your Ipad or tablet. Ask for assistance in sign-up and collecting fees before the class. Benefits: large spaces for holding meetings, some have art rooms, good interest level Home School, Scouts, etc. My own experience required each child be accompanied by a parent, (as we use flames and aniline dyes). If there is one parent, who is willing to work with you, that person collects the cost of the class fees ahead of time, and keeps you informed of the numbers. I did not charge that person as they helped me with sign up, etc. Benefits: strong interest in tradition Clubs Recently I taught at a garden club, following their 10 minute meeting for the month. Ask the web master to add class information to their website. You can ask for assistance with sign-up and collecting fees. Benefits: large groups, good interest level Local Media & Internet Timing is always important! So search for the arts section in your local newspaper. Make note of who is writing the articles and contact them ahead of the Lenten/Easter season. Tell them you are teaching a class at one of the venues you have already set up. Ask them to include all information about the upcoming class (we get a lot of students this way). Ask if they would like to do a story on your eggs around the holidays. Frequently they also want to shoot a video for their website, with an accompanying article. Benefits: they advertise your class for you Demonstrations Demonstrations are a way to get recognized, and may elicit students. In one case, I spent an evening demonstrating at a popular art center during the “Holiday” gift shop, and display of my eggs. My class at this center was scheduled for February that year, so I hoped the demo would encourage people to sign up… and it did! I also have demo-ed under the tent of the art school, where I was going to teach that summer; at the largest county fairground in my state. I distributed brochures for the school and my business cards. Benefits: attendance was high at the state fair, the arts school was well-known. Rain/Snow Dates Be sure to discuss back up dates in the event of extreme weather changes.
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)
It is important to have the students practice first. There is a rhythm to the strokes:
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.
My advice is to Photograph Each Class That You Teach. I like to start with a photo of the room set up and individual set up. It is a visual reminder for the next time that you teach, and makes sure that you have all the supplies for that class. For example, shoot a picture of the dye table, and the individual student place setting
Create a Collage of the Class PhotosAlways ask your audience if anyone would mind you taking photos during the class.
When teaching a Beginner Class, I distribute a packet of "Pysanky Symbols and Meanings" as a take-away. I briefly discuss the idea of pysanky being a "talisman" with their traditional symbols. Along my pysanky travels on the internet, I came across charts that other teachers use. I plan to create some of my own for classes this year. I hope they inspire you too.
 TEACHER USES A TEMPORARY VISUAL AID-WHITE BOARD-Thanks to Tetyana Solotska for the photo and idea |
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