Easter Eggs Polish Pisanki

Easter Eggs
Polish Pisanki
Eastern European Art Project
by Edyta Goetsch
Polish pisanka (plural pisanki) is a common
name for an egg (usually that of a chicken,
although goose or duck eggs are also used)
ornamented using various techniques.
Originating as a pagan tradition, pisanki
were absorbed by Christianity to become the
traditional Easter egg. Pisanki are now
considered to symbolize the revival of
nature.
Kinds of Pisanki
There are various types of pisanki, based on the technique and
preparation used:
•Kraszanki (sometimes called malowanki or byczki) are made
by boiling an egg in a decoction of plants or other natural
products. The color of kraszanka depends on the kind of product
used.
•Drapanki or skrobanki are made by scratching the surface of a
kraszanka with a sharp tool to reveal the white of the egg shell.
•Pisanki are created by drawing (Polish: pisanie) on an egg shell
covered with a layer of molten wax, or alternately drawing
designs with wax on a bare egg. The egg is then submerged into
a dye.
•Naklejanki or nalepianki are decorated with petals of
elderberry, scraps of colorful paper (including wycinanki) or with
patches of cloth. Popular in Łowicz and the surrounding area.
•Oklejanki or wyklejanki are decorated with bulrush pith or
yarn. They are common in the Podlaskie region of Poland.
Colors
The color of pisanki depends on the kind of
product used:
–brown: onion peels;
–black: oak or alder bark or the nutshell of
walnut;
–golden: the bark of young apple tree or the
marigold flower;
–violet: petals of the mallow flower;
–green: shoots of young rye or leaves of
periwinkle;
–pink: the juice of beet.
How Old Are Pisanki?
The oldest known Polish pisanki date from
the 10th century, although it is probable that
eggs were decorated by Slavic people even
earlier.
Secrets of the Art:
• I use a straight pin or nail attached to the
blunt end of a pencil to achieve the droppull method.
• Melt beeswax over a continuous low heat.
Wax adheres best to a warm egg.
• You may “write” on hollowed egg shells,
hard boiled eggs, or fresh eggs. Fresh
eggs will dry out eventually.
Things you
need for the
Drop-Pull
method:
Eggs
Beeswax candle
Pencil with a pin
Food coloring
Jars
Water
Vinegar
The Drop-Pull Method
Final Product
From Google Images
My pisanki
Students’ Art Work – Crayon Resist
Step 1. After the presentation, students filled in
paper eggs with designs of their choice using
crayons.
Step 2
Empty space of each egg was filled with
watercolor.
Step 3
Dry eggs were cut out and mounted onto bright
paper.
Students added more details: grass, flowers, etc.
More Examples of Students’ Work