Pysanky by Mia

Welcome to my website, my name is Mia.

My art form is based on 5,000 year-old traditions. it is a wax resist process on actual eggshells.

This art form is known as 'pysanka,' which is a Ukrainian word meaning 'to write.' (The plural is 'pysanky.')

I do all of the work free-hand, no decals, stencils or paint.

I draw on egg shells with hot beeswax, which comes out of a miniature brass funnel. After I draw everything that I want to keep white, I dye the egg and then draw with wax on that color. I work from color to color, often light to dark, although I now use acid washing to change my color palette and to add texture and extra details to my designs. When I finish the design, I have a dark, wax-covered egg. I heat the egg and melt the wax off usinga heat gun- and the colors are revealed.

Each symbol has meaning based on ancient agricultural traditions. Each egg is a little story, with wishes for good health, prosperity, happiness or fertility.

Pysanky was originally a form of magic. I hope I bring that to it still.