#15. Alcohol INKspirations - Gail Lambka - Saturday July 19th - 10:00am - 12:00pm - registration opens February 1st 2pm eastern

Workshop Summary: 

Curious about how alcohol inks can be used to alter the appearance of batik (pysanky) eggs? Want to build stunning backgrounds that can brighten or improve your designs? Have a PHD (pysanky half done) laying around?? Alcohol inks are definitely the ticket!
In this lesson, you'll see how effective alcohol inks may be in replacing the final dye bath when writing a pysanka.  Not only will we discuss color combinations, we will also review
• What types of ink are available: the good, bad and ugly.
• Supplies to use with alcohol inks:  how many is too much?
• Blending solutions and how to use them: can you make your own?
• How to create mottled and speckled patterns: the fun part!
• Heat guns and blow dryer use with inks: how necessary are these?
• what “sealing” products, like sprays or varnish, can be safely applied to alcohol ink eggs: for your safety and that of your creation.

After applying and experimenting with inks on a practice egg, you'll use your new skills to finish a waxed pysanka that you MUST bring with you.  Under “What to Bring” I will include details about what MUST accompany you to class.

Experience with writing Pysanky is recommended but beginners will also find this class to be fun and creative.

What's Provided:

• Detailed handouts with instructions will be provided during the class.
  
• alcohol inks, daubbers, micro brushes, toothpicks,  blending solutions, heat gun, Krylon spray.

What to Bring:

• This prep work is very important and will make or break your experience!
  • a soft cloth for removing wax
  • 1 egg that has been waxed and left white.  Any kind of theme, even just your name in big letters. This is your practice egg.  DO NOT DYE IT!
  • 1 egg that has a waxed and dyed design up until the final color.  Then wash back or etch the egg back to white.  Bring this white PHD (pysanky half done) to class. Actually…this is great way to finish any PHD you might have hanging around!

Maximum Number of Students: max 22

Workshop Fee: $35.00 CAD + $5 CAD for materials - total $40 CAD (this will be used for the alcohol inks which are approx. $8 USD each. (payment in cash will be collected at the retreat. Payment details, and fees, will be communicated by Gail at a later time)

About Gail Lambka:

GailLambka is a former Microbiologist and craft enthusiast.  She has been writing pysanka since the age of 8 (taught by her Ukrainian grandmother and mother) and loved this art from the first time she picked up a kistka. Colour driven, this art form has given her many chances to use her love of color and geometry to create new designs. Gail has taught the art of pysanky in her home studio as well as at cultural centers, art centers and adult workshops.  

She also ran the business “Naked Eggs” on Etsy and was the supplier for many crafters, pysankars, educators, museums, photographers, and even Tiffany’s and Martha Stewart Living.  

Her “Naked Eggs” business won a “MSL American Made Award,” and was featured in 12 Easter issues of Martha Stewart Living Magazineand her pysanky were featured online in MSL.  In 2020, she published her first book, “Writing Ribbons, A Ukrainian Pysanky Sideband Designs." Her newest book, “Writing Pysanka, Piece by Piece,” came out February, 2024.