Pysanka: Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating

Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023
Time: 10:00am – noon
Ages: Adults 18+
Materials included: As part of the fee, participants will receive a stylus kit to use and keep.

Get creative this Easter! Join Don and Vera Bedrin and learn about the tradition and artistry behind Pysanka, one of Ukraine’s most famous Easter traditions! The word pysanka comes from the verb pysaty, “to write”. Participants will try their hand at this intricate artform by layering colours and using a stylus, with a focus on drawing vibrant lines, patterns, and shapes. Pysanka are given to friends and loved ones to represent the gift of life—usually decorated to match the personality of the receiver.

Don and Vera Bedrin have been creating the art of Pysanka for about forty years. Don is a retired grandfather of five. Don’s grandfather and grandmother immigrated to Canada in the beginning of the 20th century. Vera’s parents moved to Canada in 1949, where soon she was born. Together, they learned the Ukrainian tradition of painting Easter eggs with wax, called Pysanka. Initially begun as a hobby, painting Pysankas has grown into a full-time creative pursuit for both Don and Vera. Don Bedrin exhibits his Pysankas at many shows, in churches and Ukrainian events. Today, he is helping Ukraine with his art.