I have been creating art from an early age, but when I found the art of Pysanky, I knew I had found my place. I began writing Pysanky in 1996. Since then I have earned my novice and intermediate certification in Batik Folk Art through the International Egg Art Guild. Each level must be passed before entering into the next. I will soon be entering an egg to be judged for the Master level. I have taught many large groups and private lessons in Pysanky. I have also given numerous demonstrations.
I have sold eggs at several large juried art shows as well as taking a personal class from Master Pysanky Artist Helen Badulak. I also displayed my eggs at the Pacific Northwest Decorated Egg Show in July 2006. I have now been selected to decorate the Vermont State Egg for the White House Easter Display in 2007.
Family History: My Grandmother was originally from Ukraine. She had been separated from her family during WWII at the age of 11. By the time she had traveled alone across Europe and to America, she remembered little of the cultural customs. I grew up being fascinated with anything from the Soviet Union, but in my area few sources existed near the end of the Cold War. At that time I did not appreciate that Ukraine was different from Russia, until it reclaimed it's independence after the fall of the Soviet Union. One year, my grandmother was given some Pysanky as a gift and I coveted them.
It was not until I took a college course in Russian history and wrote a paper on Pysanky that I really learned about these remarkable eggshells. During my research I found the Ukrainian Gift Shop (UGS). They had a Pysanky kit and I wasted no time sending away for it. I made my first egg in 1996. I enjoyed the process but only made four sad little eggs. Te perfectionist in me did not like the way that they had turned out. Still, I decided to make pysanky as my wedding favor. I made over 80 eggs (only one per family). Not only the practice, but also the purchase of an electric kistka greatly improved my ability to make straight lines.
I had found new confidence and love for the art form. I have been dyeing eggshells ever since and seeking new ways in which to excel and make this art form my own.
