Ukrainian eggs
Judy Anderson
>From: jenn...@teleport.com (Jennifer L. Saks)
>Subject: Re: Ukrainian eggs
>Date: 26 Jan 1995 13:04:35 -0800
>Lee-
>I have a question for you. I bought all the materials to learn to do this
>beautiful art form quite a few years ago from a little Ukrainian shop
>(now long gone). I had been painting eggs for some time with various
>kinds of paint and ink, but was interested in trying this. The problem I
>ran into is that the wax globbed onto the egg and wouldn't form a neat,
>precise line when I tried to draw with it. This results in an uneven line
>when the egg is dyed, too. Was I working too slowly, maybe? I really want
>to try again, but I got pretty discouraged. Precision isn't a problem for
>me-most of the work I do is tiny and precise, but I do tend to work slowly.
>Maybe the wax cooled off too much??
>Thanks!
>Jennifer
Jennifer, if you get the wax too hot (or are using a kitska (sp?) with too
large an opening) you will get the globbies. I use an alcohol lamp and a fine
kitska along with good beeswax (I use a candle too, so I can get some soot
into the wax...helps to see where your lines are). Try starting your line on
a piece of newsprint, to make sure it's not globbing. Working slowly is a
good way to get good results, so I don't think that's the problem. Besides,
if you work too slowly, the worst that happens is that the wax cools in the
tool and won't transfer to the egg. Don't forget the prayer before you
start--it's supposed to help! :)
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