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"Kistka" or "kystka" is the name given to the stylus (tool) used in making pysanky in some areas of western Ukraine and in Poland. It is also referred to as a pysachok and pysaltse. It generally consists of a small metal reservoir with a fine tip/opening on a wooden or plastic handle. Wax is scooped into the reservoir, heated, and then the stylus is used to write with wax on an egg's shell.
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How do you use a kistka?
"Kistka" (or "kystka") is the name given to the tool used to make pysanky in some areas of western Ukraine. A kistka works by allowing hot beeswax to flow through a tiny funnel, like ink through a pen. When the wax is hot and the kistka is applied to an egg, the wax flows out onto the shell and hardens immediately. There is no one perfect way to hold a kistka, so you can experiment to find a way that is both comfortable for you and allows the wax to flow freely. You can read about how to use a traditional kistka at the link below.
What is the tool used for painting eggs in Ukraine called?
The eggs are not painted, they are dyed with a batik process. The wax is applied with a tool called a stylus (English) or a pysachok or kistka/kystka (Ukrainian).
How do you make a kistka?
Very few people make their own kistky (styluses), as commercially made ones are generally of much better quality, relatively cheap and widely available on-line. A simple wooden handled version can be had for about $3 in North America, and about $1 in Ukraine. There are several ways of making a stylus, but they all require a metal cone (copper or brass), a handle, and a means of attaching the cone to the handle. If you cut a small piece of sheet copper, shape it into a cone with a very small opening, and then attach the cone to a wooden dowel or stick (usually by passing it through a hole in the stick and wrapping into place with copper wire), you will have created your own kistka. Fancier types of kistky require machining, and entirely non-cost effective endeavor.
How do you dye a blown egg?
If you have a goose egg or smaller, cap the hole (or holes) with beeswax. To do this, make a tiny ball of wax, flatten it into a disc, and place it over the hole. Then use your kistka to "seal" the edges where the disc of wax meets the shell. You can either roll the egg around in the dye, or, if you need more color saturation, hold the egg down in the dye using a spoon or a capped jar of water as a weight. Be sure to rotate the egg gently every 5 minutes or so to avoid base spots where the dye will not adhere to the shell where it was touching the surface of the dye jar. After you remove the egg from the dye, immediately remove the cap. Dry the egg with paper towels, and if it seems that dye got inside the egg, twist a piece of Kleenex into a point and insert it into the hole in the egg. Invert it and let it dry out overnight before re-dyeing. For more information about pysanky, or Ukrainian egg decorating, see the "Pysanky Egg Art" category under Hobbies and Collectibles/Arts and Crafts.
Where can you purchase pysanka-making supplies?
In general, pysanka-making supplies are inexpensive compared to those required for many other arts and crafts. Pysanka supplies are a mixed lot -- a few are very specialized items that need to be ordered from specific pysanka supply shops, while others can be purchased in most neighborhood shops.GENERAL ITEMS:Eggs: You can pick up a carton from the grocery store, but might be better off buying from a farmer's market or natural food store. Commercial eggs tend to be handled a lot by machinery, and this can damage the surface of the egg.Candles: Any candles can be used, but short tapers (like those sold as emergency candles) are usually the best.....and cheapest. They can usually be found in dollar or discount stores.Candle holders: Any stable one will do, but it will get lots of dark wax on it, so don't use a nice one. I find that you can buy these quite cheaply at the dollar or local discount store.Paper towels: Any will do, but those without a noticeable grain are a bit better. Many recommend Viva towels, as they can be reused.Spoons: Needed for dyeing. You can use your kitchen spoons, but it's nice to have a few cheap tablespoons around from a dollar store or garage sale.Jars: Old peanut butter or jelly jars that hold at least two cups of fluid are needed. You can also purchase Gladware-style round quart containers that work quite well.SPECIALTY ITEMS: These can be purchased from the pysanka supply retailers listed below (links at bottom of page as well)Stylus: Also called a kistka or pysachok, used for writing with wax on the egg. These can be electric or old-fashioned "candle-powered."Dyes: Aniline (chemical) dyes are usually used, and can be purchased from the retailers below in small packets, ready to mix. UGS, Patty Wisczuk, Wax Art Supply and Egg-Cessories all produce their own lines of dyes, and may have different colors available.Beeswax: Cakes, sheets and "strings" of beeswax are available for all the pysanka supply retailers, and unbleached beeswax can be purchased in farmers' markets and craft shops. For those with electric styluses, darkened wax is preferred.HELPUL ITEMS: There are many items that are helpful in making pysanky, but not absolutely necessary for their production. Templates, egg blowers, craft lathes and the like can be purchased from most pysanka specialty shops. Patty of Pysanky Showcase sells a wonderful collection of dyes as well as ingenious egg-dipper devices. The Polish Art Center in Hamtramck carries a wonderful selection of pysanka books as well as other pysanka supplies.Useful suppliers:All Things UkrainianPolish Art CenterPysanky ShowcaseWax Art SupplyUkrainian EggcessoriesUkrainian Gifts Shop
Can anyone give me ideas on how to decorate eggs with a stained-glass effect?
Using a kistka, build up high, thick lines of wax (the black beeswax) like the leading between the glass panes of a stained glass window. This wax will NOT be removed later as is done with traditional pysanky. Generally, geometric patterns that do not have small areas of colour work well. However, it is hard to create very large areas of even colour. Create all the lines before starting to colour the egg. With a cotton swab (Q-Tip) or small paintbrush, and working isolated sections, pool the dye between the lines and leave until enough colour appears to have been absorbed. Carefully blot excess liquid with paper towel and repeat the application of dye to the area until you are satisfied with how rich the colour is. Handle the egg very carefully so that you do not spread dye from your fingertips onto other areas of the egg. Continue this application process until all areas that you planned to colour have been done. Coat the entire egg with coats of clear nail polish until it has the appearance of glass. Do not use lacquer or varnish as the desired effect will not result. Since the egg is handled a lot and white areas could be contaminated, you may want to finish painting and coating one side of the egg fully before starting to colour the second side. Very satisfactory results are not difficult to achieve, but it does take some time to apply the the colours as opposed to dumping them in jars of dye.
How do you teach pysanky?
Pysanky are created using wax and dyes. Have you ever drawn on an egg with crayon then dipped it into dye? When you do that, the dye will not absorb into the shell beneath the crayon marks, so when you take the egg out of the dye, a pattern remains on the egg.When making pysanky, the wax is applied with a kistka or pysachok (Ukrainian words that refers to the tool used to heat and apply the wax). The egg is placed into several dye baths, after each of which more wax is applied. At the end of the process, the wax is melted off and the pattern is revealed. This is a wax resist technique, much like batik.(For more detailed information about pysanky, explore the category "Pysanky Egg Art" on this web site. It is under Hobbies and Collectibles/Arts and Crafts.)For a nice set of step-by-step photos, or more detailed instructions, check out the links below.As with most handcrafts, hands on instruction is the best way to learn pysankarstvo (the art of writing pysanky). It really helps to have someone guide you through the process.Many books have been published on the subject in recent years No one of them is perfect, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. This is a list of some useful ones (not in alphabetical order):For traditional pysanky (traditions, history and photos):ELYJIW, ZENON. 60 Score of Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Self published, Buffalo, NY. 1994. A book featuring 1200 traditional pysanky arranged by motif and division. This book is now out of print, but a valuable resource if you can find it.MANKO, VIRA. The Ukrainian Folk Pysanka. L'viv, Ukraine: Svichado Press, 2005. This probably the best book in print on the subject of the folk (traditional) pysanka. It covers, in great depth and with great scholarship, the history, traditions, myths and symbolism of the pysanka. Pysanka making techniques are covered as well, albeit fairly briefly. In addition, there are color plates with 1460 different traditional pysanky from every corner of Ukraine. It is the book for anyone interested in true traditional pysanky.TKACHUK, MARY AND MARIE KISHCHUK, ALICE NICHOLAICHUK. Pysanka: Icon of the Universe. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada: Ukrainian Museum, 1977. This short little booklet full of information about pysanka history, folklore, and symbolism. The ethnographical and historical information within is priceless. Pysanka making instructions are minimal, but there are some good hints and tips here.For techniques:LUCIOW, JOHANNA AND ANNE KMIT AND LORETTA LUCIOW. Eggs Beautiful: How to Make Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Minneapolis, MN: Gopher State Litho, 1975. This early UGS book presents a very basic explanation of the culture, history, and techniques of pysankarstvo along with eighteen step-by-step designs in black and white.KMIT, ANNE AND , LORETTA LUCIOW, JANET LUCIOW, AND LUBA PERCHYSHYN. Ukrainian Easter Eggs: And How We Make Them. Minneapolis, MN: Ukrainian Gift Shop, 1979. If you only buy one of the UGS series, this is the one to get. It begins with the culture and history of pysanky, along with an excellent explanation of the symbolism and techniques, before presenting twenty-seven eggs in simple, clear, black and white illustrations. Unfortunately, it is currently out of print.PERCHYSHYN, NATALIE. A Kid's Guide to Decorating Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Minneapolis, MN: Gopher State Litho, 2000. With bold colors and a spiral binding (making it easier to lie flat), this book seems simple, but nonetheless presents the entire pysanka writing process along with many tips and tricks.Art pysanky/coffee table books:BADULAK, HELEN. Pysanky in the 21st Century. Kutztown, PA: The Kutztown Publishing Company, Inc., 2004. This books discusses pysanka writing techniques, and has many color photos of the author's own pysanky. NOTE: The Helen Badulak book is lovely, but it is not for beginners. If you are just starting out, either the Kids' Guide or the Eggs Beautiful book are best.POLLAK, JANE. Decorating Eggs: Exquisite Designs with Wax and Dye. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 1998. Jane Pollak became famous for her magnificent quilt-pattern eggs, which sold for a fortune at exclusive Manhattan are galleries before she turned her attention to inspirational speaking. The book has photographs of modern pysanky from artists all around the world, and includes descriptions of technique as well.
