Pysanky – Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating

This tradition has taken on additional meaning with a war raging on Ukraine’s homeland, as making pysanky has become a gesture of hope and of peace. For us in comfort far away from the war zone, making pysanky is also a means of expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people and others impacted by war and violence.

For over a thousand years, the peoples of what is now known as Ukraine have welcomed the advent of spring and the Easter season by making colorfully decorated eggs known as pysanky. 

Pysanky are decorated by the wax-resist method in which molten beeswax is applied to an egg using a stylus heated in a candle. The egg is dipped in a series of dyes, from lightest color to darkest color, with wax being applied after each color bath. Finally the wax is removed, revealing all the colors that have been protected by the beeswax. The technique is similar to the process by which batik cloths are decorated.

The Pysanky Workshop will be led by Hank Art, who learned the technique as a teenager and has enjoyed making these Ukrainian Easter eggs ever since, even sometimes at Christmastime. No special skill is required, and while it is difficult to replicate the ornate patterns of the Ukrainian folk artists who have been making pysanky since they were children, often the simplest patterns are most elegant, or you can try more modern motifs. Regardless, Easter eggs will never again seem the same as you view your own pysanky.

During this workshop, in addition to learning how to make the Ukrainian Easter eggs, participants are invited to make a donation to support relief work in Ukraine.

As Hank Art notes, “there are so few opportunities for really concrete gestures to make statements of assistance, so we are excited to welcome everyone to gather in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and others who are suffering from global conflict.”

Suggested minimum donation for this event is $25