This Spring learn “Pysanky”, the art of Ukrainian Egg Decorating, with Lowertown artist Justin Terlecki

The design for the April 9th Beginner Pysanky class at Wet Paint.

Wet Paint Artists’ Materials & Framing—Welcome Spring and awaken your senses with color, the smell of beeswax, the light of a candle and quiet sounds of kitsky on eggshell.

“Pysanky are Ukrainian Easter Eggs, decorated using beeswax and dyes that are applied in layers. Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating has been handed down through generations of the Ukrainian people. They are famous the world over for their colorful Easter Eggs (Pysanky).

Over 2000 years ago, before the time of Christ, people decorated eggs believing that great powers were embodied in the egg. Eggs symbolized the release of the earth from the shackles of winter and the coming of spring with its promise of new hope, new life and prosperity.

With the advent of Christianity, Easter eggs symbolize the Resurrection and a promise of eternal life. Legend has it that as long as pysanky are decorated, goodness will prevail over evil throughout the world.”—Excerpt from How to Decorate Beautiful Ukrainian Easter Eggs “Pysanky” by Luba Perchyshyn

Above: Watch video from a 2019 Justin Terlecki Pysanky class

Spring Pysanky classes at Wet Paint

In upcoming March 19th and April 9th 2022 classes at Wet Paint (and virtually), Lowertown artist Justin Terlecki will show you how, with step by step instructions and tips and techniques from his lifetime of experience decorating Pysanky.

If you have long admired the beautiful Ukrainian eggs at Justin Terlecki’s perennial demo here at Wet Paint, it’s time for you to give it try yourself! Decorate a Goose Egg with a beautiful traditional Ukrainian Cross and Wheat design (a beginner level pattern) on March 19th, 2022 or take another beginner class on April 9th, 2022.

Justin Terlecki

Justin Terlecki is an artist living and working in St. Paul, Minnesota with over 30 years experience creating beautiful Pysanky. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, Terlecki graduated from Youngstown State University in 1997 earning a BFA in painting and printmaking, and first learned the art of Pysanky while attending Ukrainian grade school in Northeast Ohio.

Justin has exhibited his work regularly in the Twin Cities since moving to Minnesota in 1998. In 2009, Justin received a Jerome Fellowship for Emerging Printmakers through Highpoint Center for Printmaking. This fellowship funded a series of prints inspired by his travels to India and Spain. His current work explores the relationship between memory, loss and communication. Terlecki’s work is included in the permanent collection of the McDonough Museum of Art and many local and national private collections.

Sketch of Justin Terlecki (Tim Jennen)

Justin Terlecki Artist Statement

“My work is autobiographical in nature and inspired by personal experiences that reflect elements of quiet observation, public spectacle and human relationships. I create narrative paintings of figures and landscapes that are visual interpretations of my memories. Travel and immediate surroundings inspire me to explore the atmosphere and mood of these specific places in time.”

“I enjoy the process of building immersive compositions with details of everyday life, perspectives of multiple vantage points, and the combination of both the real and imagined. Whether it be a crowded community gathering or in the solitude of nature, I’m interested in moments that present a feeling of connectedness.

Justin Terlecki in 2009 with the Wet Paint art store crew.

While these stories and memories are personal to me as an artist, I encourage the viewer to discover their own shared association and interpretation.”

Justin’s work is represented by Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Justin is also a long time employee of Wet Paint and lives in the Lowertown Lofts Artists’ Cooperative.

Text and images edited by Nigel Parry. Additional biographical text from Groveland Gallery.