BEGINNING DROP PULL

Class limit: 15 students

Class Fee: $10

Materials Fee: $3 ($2 can be dropped if student does not want to keep print materials, $1 fee for a divided chicken egg shell)

Please bring with you: drop-pull styluses, pencil. If you like, you can fashion your own drop-pull stylus by sticking a pin (metal or glass head) into the end of a pencil. Small tacks can work well, too. I will provide wax, candles, and melter.

Not all pysanky are created using a kistka! This class will introduce students to the drop-pull technique, which was practiced in western Ukraine, particularly by the Lemko ethnic group. Other European traditions also practice drop-pull, such as the Slovaks and Lithuanians. In this technique, a heated metal stylus is dipped into molten wax and used to create distinctive teardrop shaped strokes on the egg by depositing a “drop” of wax on the shell and “pulling” it. These strokes can be combined in various ways to create beautiful patterns. Students will have time and supplies to create one drop-pull pysanka in the batik (wax and dye) method.

Dr. Amelia Randich, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Biology, LSC 351

University of Scranton

Scranton, PA 18510

Office phone: 570-941-5856