Ukrainian Eggs

I have fond memories of making Ukrainian eggs with my mom and sister way back in the eighties. I loved spending hours creating with this ancient process; using the heat of the flame, wax and the many colors of dye to make traditional designs and to create my own. 

I could hardly wait until I could share this art form with my children! Hence, they had their first experience making Ukrainian eggs at a young age. For many years now, we also gather friends together to create these delicate eggs. It is fun to see the abundance of creativity unveil in deep vibrant patterns of color as the hours fly by.


 

Architecture continued to be a theme from drawing to egg dyeing. 

My daughter decided to make a cityscape too!

 The cat, pink and purple design and the rainbow are also her creations!

My daughter thought to use cotton swaps to add dye to smaller sections of her designs, so she wouldn't need to dye the entire egg each time. This technique also gave her many more color combination choices.

Melting the wax to unveil the finished egg.

If you are inspired to create your own Ukrainian eggs, there is little investment to hours of fun! 

When you have a moment, stop by the Ukrainian Gift Shop in Minneapolis to see traditionally decorated eggs, pick up supplies and watch these delightful eggs being decorated right before your eyes!

There is also a website with a shop and make sure to read their beautiful history of emigrating to America. http://www.ukrainiangiftshop.com

Sugar Bush

 As a family, we've volunteered many hours over the years at a local farm and this was the first time we helped at the sugar bush. Our daughter is a pro and helped us along the way with the maple syrup process.

 Carrying a full pail of maple sap.

 Maple sap dripping into containers.

 Skimming foam off the top of the vat that evaporates the maple sap and shaking it off onto the ground.

 Abstract scene of steam floating off the vat of evaporating maple sap.

 A couple images hiding in the trees.

 Collecting maple sap.

 Filtering the maple sap.

Nearby, our son made himself a little camp while wishing we had some marshmallows to roast.

Our son said pointing up, "Look... near the chimney!" It took me a moment and then I saw what he was pointing at...the steam and heat blurring the vision of the trees in the background.

Ghostly Wave

During the few days before the ice went out, a magical cloak of fog was hanging over Lake Minnetonka.

Architectural Drawing

I am hooked on drawing architecture! I didn't want to stop but then began another drawing challenge where I've found even more inspiration!  I hunger to continue drawing every moment possible until the very last drop!

Paris, France

Langres, France

Eltz, Germany

 Finland

Fishing houses on the coast of England 

I was inspired by a video posted by a fellow artist on the on-line drawing group that I shared about in a previous post and thought to try this technique during Art Experience. 

The table was brimming with youth busily creating there own drawings and filling the shapes with color.  The following Alsace, France drawings are crated by my daughter.

A Splash of Green IV

  Collection of green 20.13

30 drawings in 30 days

A dear friend asked if I would like to join an on-line drawing group. I thought what a great idea, I could manage drawing something from time to time, share with the group and be inspired by others.

A couple days later I realized they had begun a drawing challenge. Yikes! I had a lot going on at the moment and at the same time thought this is a wonderful opportunity to get back into drawing everyday.  This is the push I needed! Thank you Wendy!

  

Zentangle

Repeat Pattern

 Flower

 Non-dominant Hand

 

 Font

Ribbon 

Childhood Doodle

 Rocks come to Life

 Purse

Juxtaposition

 

Positive Negative 

 Positive Negative II

 Halloween

 Dia de los Muertos

 

 

Tennis Shoe

Vegetables

 Kitchen Utensils

 Succulents

Animal

 Childhood Toy

 Cross-contour of Hand

 Cross-Contour Three Objects

 Eyes

Crumpled Paper

When creating, I want to draw until my heart's content, so I often went past the 20 minute time limit and posted two or three drawings at one time (mostly due to computer issues). 

I was thinking that at least I was drawing everyday! Then there were the times I was so scared to draw the subject matter that I didn't draw it. All in all, I learned a lot about myself and as the challenge came to an end, the drawing group and this exercise has inspired me to continue drawing!