“The more pysanky in the world, the closer we are to peace.”
How I Started
When I was about 12 years old, I read a book by Lois Lowry called, A Summer to Die. In the book, Meg, a frustrated kid tired of being outshone by her popular, pretty older sister, fosters her artistic ability by learning about photography through the help of a neighbor. She also blows out two egg shells and paints them to give as gifts to her sister, who she finds out is dying of cancer, and to her friendly neighbor.
After reading that book, I was inspired to paint eggs. And I did that for years. However, one day I saw a pysanka in a neighbor's house. It was the first time I had ever seen one. I asked, "how was that made?" She said, "with the Ukrainian method...you know, wax?"
I didn't know. It took several years before I happened to be in a gift shop that had Luba's Ukrainian Egg Decorating Kit. My mother bought it for me (seemed appropriate. She had also bought me that Lois Lowry book so many years ago) and I made my first pysanka that very day.
Inspiration
I stand on the shoulders of so many artists before me. Helen Badulak's book, Pysanky in the 21st Century is still my go-to book for solutions to problems and answers to questions I may have. I look at #pysanky on Instagram daily and am constantly amazed at eggs made all over the world.
My husband and I visited the Ukrainian Museum of Canada in Saskatoon and I was greatly helped by their exhibit and wonderful gift store.
Inspiration is found daily in objects and nature all around me.