Pysanky Egg Art

Onion skin dye should be made from the outer, dry skins of yellow onions (for traditional onion skin dye). Do not include any actual onion pieces. Save these until you have a lot of them (at least a "generous" handful), and then cut them up into small pieces. Put the onion skins into a pot, and add just enough water to cover them. Use a glass or wooden stirrer (not metal). Heat the mixture to a low boil, and then cook until the water reaches the desired color. Onion skins will produce anything from a light gold to a deep reddish-brown color. This could take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Keep in mind that the color of the eggs will be much lighter than the color of the dye solution. Strain the mixture, after it has cooled, though a cheesecloth or strainer into another container. DO NOT add vinegar. Store in the refrigerator in a closed glass container until needed. (The dye may stain plastic containers.) When dyeing, you will need to bring the dye back to room temperature before using. Dyeing natural dyes takes much longer than with chemical dyes (which dye in minutes, if not seconds), so be prepared to wait a while. Also, natural dyes do not last very long (although refrigeration swill prolong their effective life). If the dye begins to smell funny or get cloudy or moldy, throw it out.

They are Trypillian-styled pysanky. The Trypillian civilization existed in Ukraine from 5500 to 2750 BC, and is known for strikingly lovely pottery. The pottery was painted in flowing geometric designs with animal motifs, and utilized black, white and ochre colors. In the latter half of 20th century there was a resurgence of popularity of Trypillian style among the Ukrainian diaspora. Modern versions of Trypillian pottery were created, and the designs and color scheme were adapted to pysanky in the 1970s. We have no actual evidence that the Trypillians decorated eggs but, if they did, the designs would probably be similar to those on traditional pysanky, as many traditional Ukrainian symbols and motifs are also found on Trypillian pottery. The colors would not have been like those on the pots, though, as they would have used natural plant-based dyes similar to those used in more modern times. Note: the preferred spelling in English has been Trypillian, but a recent exhibit from Ukraine utilized the spelling "Trypilian."

The dye will become a gelatinous sludge, instead of a fairly clear solution. The vinegar reacts with the dye to form a precipitate (new chemical substance) which will form either a sludge or a gel. This means that the dye might not stick properly to eggs, and may coat them with a gooey substance.

The final result varies depending on the manufacturer and exact chemical composition of the orange dye. Some pysankary will purposely add vinegar, even the dye will get gooey because the color sticks better and is brighter. This is particularly true of Ukrainian orange dyes.

If this happens to you, it is usually best to throw out the dye and mix up a new batch......without vinegar. But it's worth trying to see if the dye will work for you in this state.

The answer to this question depends on the context. The ancient Ukrainians who first created pysanky used local plants to create dyes to decorate eggs, and of course they were limited by what was available to them. Historically, their eggs used yellow, red, green and black colors. Small highlights of blue were sometimes added, but this was a difficult color to obtain from nature. Contemporary "Easter Eggs" tend to be decorated in pastel shades of yellow, pink, green, purple, blue, orange, and so on. Modern artists experiment with every color under the sun! Specific colors have specific meanings, so depending on the patterns and designs you choose, and the culture from which they originate, the colors take on those meanings.

NOTE: a pysankar from Europe reports that using the Mr. Clean-type "Magic Eraser" sponges removes these marks quickly, cleanly, and without damaging the cuticle. This appears to be a promising solution to this problem.

Previous answer: There is, generally, no good way to get the date off of an egg without damaging the cuticle (the outer layer of a shell). The egg producers are making them to be eaten, not to be decorated, so do not take this into consideration. The dye must be permanent enough not to come off when the egg sweats (when moisture from the air condenses on its surface) in order to be useful, so it's generally not removable in a simple, non-abrasive way.

Some date stamps are more permanent than others; it is worth trying to wash the stamp off with mild dish detergent (e.g. Ivory) and a Scotch-Brite pad.

Most people who use dated eggs for making pysanky simply leave them on, and either incorporate the colors into their design, or work around the marks.

It's best to avoid eggs with these marks when making pysanky.

A chick. I get this joke and it's pretty funny. You would be surprised to find a chick in an eggshell. For those who don't get it (chick as in a term for girls/women). For an example sentence, "Look at that chick walking."

It's "chick" when you are using the term for both a girl and a baby chicken. Anyway, it would be surprising to find anything inside of an egg that isn't a chick or a part of the egg's original contents.

However, it would be surprising if you found a chick of any sort, and in any condition, in an egg purchased from a supermarket.

Not necessarily humorous, however, spies were known to imbed secret messages inside an eggshell, without breaking the shell!

No. Using wax and dyes is a technique. It is the pattern that is created that determine whether an egg is traditional or not.

It depends.

There are three types of pysanka designs: traditional, diasporan and art eggs.

TRADITIONAL pysanka designs have been around for centuries, and are in the public domain. Anyone can copy them.

DIASPORAN (or quasi-traditional) designs use traditional motifs, but have been created in recent years. They can be original designs, or variations on traditional designs. These designs may or may not be in the public domain, depending on how long ago the design was created.

ART eggs are modern designs using pysanka techniques. These are usually not in the public domain unless they are very old.

If the design is found in a book, unless otherwise specified, one would assume that the designs are there to be shared and copied.

If it is an egg you've seen, it is best to ask. Most (but not all) pysanka artists are complimented if you ask to be allowed to copy one of their original designs. If the artist is a professional, and sells pysanky, he or she may not want original designs to be copied. ALWAYS ASK.

If you see it on the web, you could ask the web site owner (if there is a link for contacts). If it is a hobby site, it's not usually a problem. If it is a commercial site, they may not want people copying, and will usually state so on the site.

Most people don't mind copies being made unless the design is an original work of art and they are a professional artist. As long as you DON'T claim the design as your own, and you don't market your work to the same audience, most are happy to share.

While the dye powder used to make pysanka dyes can be quite toxic (if inhaled), the dyes themselves are not. You can pour them down the drain.

How any colors are there in a rainbow? There are two types of dyes used for making pysanky: natural (less common today) and chemical aniline dyes. There are many, many colors of aniline dyes available commercially in North America. The four commercial suppliers of such dyes packaged specifically for use in making pysanky are UGS (Ukrainian Gift Shop), Eggcessories, Surma and Pysanky Showcase. The first three have many of the same names for their dyes, but the actual colors can vary a lot. The reds are a good example: UGS's scarlet (formerly bright red) is quite orangey, as opposed to the Eggcessories bright red, which is a full, darker red. The same is true for many of the other colors--there is much variation as all are custom blends. *UGS: 17 different colors *Surma: 13 different colors *Eggcessories: 13 different colors *Pysanky Showcase: 38 different colors The Pysanky Showcase dyes have a much greater spectrum, including several "brilliant" shades among the 38 offered. You can also create custom pastel colors by adding 2 T of dye (already mixed) to a cup and a half of water plus a T of vinegar. And you can blend your own dyes by mixing together varying amounts of dyes to create new colors. (Mix the actual dyes, not the powders. DO NOT mix together vinegar-free dyes with those that contain vinegar.) For example, adding a small amount of light blue to pink gives a deeper pink color. Additionally, using various combinations of dyebaths in succession can produce interesting colors: orange to green will give olive, dark green to pink will give purple. Play around a bit and see what happens! There is a huge spectrum of color out there!

Etching is a process used to remove parts of the egg shell with an acid to create raised areas, giving your egg a textured surface. Vinegar or The Works toilet cleaner are often used. Waxed areas are protected from the acid and thus stay intact, versus the exposed areas which are eaten away. The longer the egg is submersed in the acid, the deeper the etching effect. It is important to wash away the debris from your egg with a soft toothbrush and a little Ivory dish liquid. One problem many people run into is "How do you etch an egg without losing most of your pencilled design?" One simple solution to this is to just draw as little as needed before etching. For instance, if you want all your main divisions to be etched, just draw and etch them before going on to draw the elements that will be contained in them. Ie, don't draw every little thing, take time to think about your design before you start to draw and wax. Try to figure out what steps you will take. What colours do I want and where? What order should I dye them in? What do I want to stick out? Sometimes etching is done inadvertently. Those that dye out of dye sequence often remove colours with Ivory dish liquid need to prep their shell before the next dye with vinegar. If you are switching back and forth to different colours this way, you are etching the shell slightly with every vinegar dip.

The word "Pysankа" is Ukrainian, and comes from the word "pysaty (писати)," which means "to write." Pysanky (plural) are eggs that have been written rather than just dyed. They are created by a process of wax-resist (aka batik).

Pysanky are quite beautiful and and can be quite intricately decorated. They have a rich and ancient history associated with spring (and, in more recent times, Easter). Traditional pysanka designs have been passed along for many generations, and possibly thousands of years.

Many pysankary (pysanka artists) both in Ukraine and the world over create wax resist that depart from the traditional colors and patterns, but are often still referred to by that word "pysanka."

To see a list of Pysanka FAQs, check out the WikiAnswer "Pysanky Egg Art" section, which is categorized under Hobbies and Collectibles/Arts and Crafts.

To see examples of pysanky, and to learn how to make them, see the list of "Related Links" in the following section.

Wax doesn't normally come off during etching. However, if the lines are too fine/thin, the acid can easily undermine (attack sideways below the wax from an etched area) the waxed lines and the wax will come off with a bit of shell.

If you are having this problem, you should consider either etching for a shorter period of time, or writing with a wider stylus. Medium or fine are OK; extra fine or narrower usually come off.

Many countries have traditions of painting, coloring or otherwise decorating eggs for Easter. This was a common pagan spring tradition, and has been incorporated into the christian traditions of many countries.

Additionally, many non-christian countries have begun practicing the pagan trappings of christian Easter traditions. Chocolate eggs and bunnies can be seen in many countries where Christianity is not practiced widely.

Simple dyed eggs at Easter are common throughout Europe, North America, and Australia. Intricately decorated eggs, made using batik, painting, applique and other techniques, are common throughout Eastern Europe, particularly among Slavic peoples.

It really depends to some degree upon what sort of eggs (and how many of them) you will be dyeing. GLASS JARS: If your dyeing will be limited to an occasional chicken egg, then pint-sized Mason jars might be all you need. They will hold a cup or so of dye and an egg without a problem, and you can buy a dozen of them in a box for $10 or less. This will give you enough jars for all the dyes you'll probably want or need, and a good place (the box) to store them. If you will be working with a variety of egg types, wide-mouth quart size Mason jars would be better. They can handle eggs up to the size of a goose egg. The metal lids that come with the mason jars should be replaced, if possible, with plastic lids. The metal ones rust and the rust gets into the dyes. If you are on a budget, or ecologically minded, you can recycle old jam, jelly or pickle jars for this purpose. The lids, if metal, will eventually rust, at which point you'll need to find new lids or simply recycle some more jars. Remember, though, that pouring boiling water into a glass container can cause it to crack and shatter. I've been told that this can be avoided by having a spoon in the jar (to absorb the heat?), but I prefer to mix up the dyes in a Pyrex measuring cup instead, and pour the cooled dye into the jar. PLASTIC: If you make lots of pysanky, or may be teaching classes (or hosting "parties") where lots of pysanky will be made, you'll want larger jars (quart) and you'll want plastic ones. Eggs are less likely to break in a plastic jar, as being bounced against a plastic wall or bottom is less traumatic than a glass one. You can use plastic peanut butter jars (or other similar jars) to store the dyes. They normally come with a plastic lid, which obviates the concern about rust. Not all plastics can stand up to boiling water, so I would suggest mixing the dye in a Pyrex measuring cup (or other heat resistant vessel) and pouring it in only after it has cooled. Another source of great containers is a Chinese restaurant or the deli counter at your supermarket -- start saving these containers! Soup is sold in heavy-duty plastic quart jars which are not just water tight, but also heat resistant, meaning you can mix up the dyes right in the jars. These are great for storing dyes and have the advantage of being absolutely free, assuming you like Chinese food and/or deli products! You can also buy quart-sized plastic storage containers (e.g. Glad-ware) that are jar-shaped with screw-on lids these are very nice and, like the soup containers, are water tight and heat resistant. NOTE:Very large eggs--emu, ostrich--require either special large containers, or they can be dyed in zip-lock plastic bags. If using the bags for dyeing, you should store the dyes in a more sturdy container.

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.

Most Easter egg dyes are water based, and so will re-dissolve in water if given the chance. If the egg becomes moist (even if held in a damp hand), the dye will come off.

In the case of eggs meant to be eaten, this is not a very big deal. In the case of eggs made to be saved, like pysanky, this can be a problem. That is why most pysanka artists coat their finished eggs with a protective varnish.

I'm not sure what you are asking. What do you mean by water color? If you mean the paints, then, no, they are not the same. Egg dye is a chemical mixed with water; eggs are soaked in the solution. For pysanky, the dyes used are acid dyes, from the family of aniline dyes. Edible Easter eggs use various types of chemical food coloring. Watercolor paints usually come in paste or cake form, and are diluted with water to create a usable paint. They are applied with a brush. Chemically, they consist of four parts:
colorant, commonly pigment (an insoluble inorganic compound or metal oxide crystal, or an organic dye fused to an insoluble metal oxide crystal);
binder, the substance that holds the pigment in suspension and fixes the pigment to the painting surface;
additives, substances that alter the viscosity, hiding, durability or color of the pigment and vehicle mixture; and
solvent, the substance used to thin or dilute the paint for application and that evaporates when the paint hardens or dries.

Minimally you need an egg, a writing tool (stylus or pysachok), a heat source (candle), beeswax and pysanka/aniline dyes.

For more detailed information see the link below.

Findings are jewellery components used to create assembled jewelry. Elements considered findings include clasps, earwires, crimps, jumprings, link locks and bead tips. Findings may be used on pysanky for various reasons. Some people like to use them (usually beads or gold or silver filigree) to conceal the hole(s) in the egg. They can be attached to very small eggs (e.g. parakeet) to make them into jewelry. Findings that look like little caps and may have a small loop to which one can attach a chain or hook, and can be used to allow pysanky to be hung and used as Christmas ornaments.

Easter is the name of the English Goddess of Light. Her annual Spring-time festival was ancient before the Christians appeared and caused the people, in the words of the Venerable Bede, to "celebrate the old feast in the spirit of a new solemnity." The Easter eggs, magical ones, in a grass-lined basket, symbolize new life in the coming of Spring. Like the swag and the rest of the trappings of Christmas, Easter eggs have no connection to Christianity beyond the silly little fictions the Church officials have made up to account for them.

An "Easter" egg is a symbol for the goddess Easter which is a variant of Astarte, the goddess of the Sidonians representing sex, reproduction and new life beginning in Spring. Also noted variants are Ishtar and April. Note the connection of all these names. Also is the rabbit/bunny which are prolific reproducers and are viviparous (offspring born live) not oviparous (hatching eggs). The eggs which are symbolic are fertilized eggs, when hatched produce the offspring (such as chicks).

Since the celebration would occur at about the same time as the discovery of the empty tomb where the body of Ἰησοῦς Xριστος was purportedly laid, for some odd reason it is still named for the pagan goddess.