Art Class, Level 2: Symbols on the Eggs

Product Description

We’ve been collecting decorated eggs, called pysanky, from countries in Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine. The eggs are a traditional part of the Easter celebration, but the tradition of decorating eggs dates back over 3000 years. With a history that long, the colors and lines used to decorate eggs are rich with meaning. A whole language of symbols has developed, so skilled egg decorators will use these symbols not just to create a beautiful design, but to create something meaningful as well.

The art lesson introduces students to some of the symbols used in traditional egg decorating in Eastern Europe, and especially in Ukraine. Students learn to draw a large egg shape, and then they will use the symbols they have learned to draw a meaning-filled design of their own on colored construction paper. They will cover the lines they drew with clear glue, which will form a resist for the chalk pastels they use to color the egg. One of the decisions students will make is to choose colors from a variety of color schemes: analogous, complementary, or triadic.

This lesson includes both POWERPOINT and VIDEO versions of the lesson, plus 2 downloadable printouts: an outline of an egg and a printout of symbols used to decorate eggs.

Approximate Time to Complete the Art Class:

• Introduction through drawing the egg shape: 20 minutes
• Applying the glue lines: 10 minutes
• (Drying time for glue: 3 hours to one day)
• Adding chalk pastel colors: 30 minutes
• Total time for working on the lesson: 60 minutes

Families will have access to the online lesson for one year from the date of purchase.