Lots Of Eggs

The latest avante-garde method of artistic expression? Eggs!

Eggs As Art

Ukrainian Easter Eggs

Ukrainian Pysanky (Easter eggs) are an ancient form of Ukrainian folk art. They are an integral and cherished tradition in every Ukrainian household. Pysanka is derived from the Ukrainian word pysaty, meaning "to write". The designs are written or drawn on an egg with melted beeswax.

The art of creating pysanky is a long process and requires a steady hand, time, and patience. It begins with the selection of a clean smooth egg.

You will need a candle, beeswax, and a tool, called a ‘kistka'. The kistka is a small wooden dowel with a hole drilled through one end where a small copper funnel-like cone is inserted and wrapped securely by copper wiring.

The egg must be at room temperature. If the egg is cold or even cool, when the wax is applied, it can affect the outcome of your pysanky. Eggs, like our skin, are porous. When the egg is covered with wax it fills the pores preserving the color that has been applied. Beeswax is used in pysanky because it is a softer wax and will cling to the egg, unlike paraffin wax which will peel off of the egg surface.

American States Easter Eggs

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Washington, D.C.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming
Each year local artists from entire America paint and decorate eggs which represent each state and send them to White House. Then after voting the best Artist is selected and he makes the main egg of the year. Easter Egg Collection began in 1994 where each state sends a decorated egg to the White House for display. The collection is coordinated by the American Egg Board.