Egg painting, more than a hobby

By Jolene Perron

An Amherstburg resident has taken Easter egg painting to a new level with an old tradition.

Margaret Walschots, 62, has decorated eggs for 10 years based on a Ukrainian tradition called Pysanky. The eggs are decorated to be given as a gift, not eaten. They represent new life but can also represent other things based on the symbols dyed on the eggs.

The tradition is uncommon and Walschots had a hard time trying to learn it in full. She periodically holds classes at the Gibson Gallery in Amherstburg to teach people the tradition and keep it alive.

“There aren’t very many things you need,” said Walschotts. “You need your kitska, you need your candle, you need your beeswax and you need your dyes. And you don’t need a lot of space.”

Traditionally the eggs are kept raw and full which symbolizes life. A “dead egg” or a cooked egg should not be used.

The process starts with a white egg. The desired design can be planned out by drawing with a pencil or can be done freehand. The parts designated to stay white are covered in beeswax. To cover the eggs in wax a kitska is used. The kitska holds the beeswax and makes covering the egg precise. This is done repeatedly after the egg is dipped in each dye, starting with the lightest color, until the entire egg is covered in wax.

This process can take anywhere up from three hours. When the egg is finished, the wax is reheated over the candle and wiped off. Walschots puts a clear finishing coat on the egg to protect the shell and the design.

“It takes a long time, but I really enjoy it and it’s something from my heritage,” said Walschots. “It’s something that not many people do anymore and I’m afraid that it would be lost so I try to teach as many people as will take lessons from me.”

Walschots said no two eggs ever turn out the same. They all react differently and the dyes take differently to each egg.

Although she sells her eggs, Walschots doesn’t make a living out of the hobby. She does the decorating for cultural reasons as a pass time.

“It’s not something that is productive monetarily,” said Walschots. “But it’s something that keeps me connected with the art world and the gallery and I like to pass on tradition … I think of it as a hobby of beauty, and I really love it.”