The Art of Egg Painting (Drapanki)
Carla Tomaszewski
This workshop will allow you to experience the traditional Polish folk art of decorated eggs, generically called pisanki. Traditionally, a ‘kraszanka’ is a single-colored egg, dyed with any number of natural colorings. Most commonly used are dried onion skins, which create various shades of warm golden brown. ‘Drapanie’ is the specific technique of etching or scratching a design out of the dye color with a sharp knife point, exposing the white eggshell. Traditional drapanki most often feature lacy floral designs, but other motifs are used as well. We will be learning about folk motifs and patterns and will be using a sharp etching tool to create our designs on single-color dyed goose eggshells. All materials will be provided for the workshop.
Carla Tomaszewski is a third-generation Polish-American, born and raised in Baltimore. As a professional graphic designer and illustrator, her work has been honored with numerous awards. In 2010 she was awarded a “Traditions” grant from the Maryland State Arts Council to teach and promote the traditional Polish folk art of pisanki (decorated eggshells) to a new generation. Along with the grant came the official designation as “Maryland Traditions Master”. Carla’s experience in wildlife illustration, combined with her love for birds, led her to create both realistic and decorative bird motifs reflective of both Polish folk art and the tidewater Southern Maryland home of the artist.