Vertical Guidelines
Part One
Here’s a simple way to figure out the pencil guidelines to create symmetry on a pysanky.
Begin by cutting a narrow (less than 1/4 inch) strip of paper (any thin, pliable paper works) about 11 inches long. The blue strip of paper in this illustration creates the vertical guidelines. The horizontal guidelines, created on a yellow band of paper, follow in the Blog Post #61.
Gently rock the egg back and forth to crease the paper band.
Make a dark pencil line on both creases.
Turn the band over and make pencil lines in the creases. This helps with the next step.
The band’s mismatched ends are not important since they are used
only for holding purposes. They can be trimmed if necessary.
Make a pencil line in the crease created by the fold. Add a small dot on
either side of the line to make it distinctive.
These 3 marks will create one guideline that divides the egg in half vertically.
(See illustration #11 below.)
Refold the paper band back to the center-mark position. Then bend the center-mark down to the circumference mark and evenly crease the resulting fold.
The above illustration shows a side-view of the band after the fold is made.
Make a pencil line in each new crease.
The new marks, indicated by arrows, create a guideline that will divide
the egg into four vertical sections. (See illustration #11 below.)
Next, refold the band to the 4th-mark position. Bend the 4th-mark down to meet the circumference mark and evenly crease the fold.
Make a pencil line in each of the four new creases.
These marks create two more guidelines that will divide the egg’s circumference
into eight vertical sections. (See illustration #11 below.)
transfering the Guideline marks to the egg.
With the guideline markings complete, hold the paper band tight against the middle of the egg, just like the first step. Once centered, you can opt to hold the band in place at the egg’s sides as shown in the illustration below.
If the bands slips out of place, realign to any mark and continue. When all the
line-marks are transferred onto the egg, remove the band.
The “Look To Where You Want To Go” Line Drawing Method
Make a pencil mark indicating the center-point at the top of the egg and a pencil mark indicating the center-point at the bottom of the of the egg. (These are the “where you want to go” points.)
Select a starting mark — one of the marks transferred from the band.
As you begin drawing the pencil line from the starting-mark, look only at the destination mark — where you want to go — either the top or bottom point.
It’s an act of faith to keep your focus on where you want to go rather than watching the pencil drawing the line. And it’s amazingly accurate.
Each guideline begins as a simple short segment, from the starting mark to the top destination point and then another to the bottom destination point. All the guidelines finish by connecting at the top and bottom points.
Top view of the vertical guidelines
1: Guideline created by the center-mark, vertically divides the egg in half.
2: Guideline created by the 4th-marks, vertically divides the egg into 4 sections.
3: Guidelines created by the 8th-marks, vertically divides the egg into 8 sections.
Additional Information
~ Check lines for accuracy and make adjustments if needed.
~ This post shows the process for eight vertical guidelines but this division technique can simply be used to divide the egg in half or in fourths. Just make the folds and marks needed on the band.
~ However many guidelines you intend, it’s easiest to create them all on the band and transfer them to the egg all at the same time.
~ Eggs come in all sizes and shapes. This division technique simplifies it all.
To continue: Horizontal guidelines are presented in Blog Post #61
Prayer for world Peace
Divine Spirit,
Let Thy light and love manifest as peace in the hearts of all world leaders.
Let Thy light and love manifest as peace in the hearts of all people in all nations.
Let the joy of Divine love fill this world with peace and understanding.
Amen
Ukrainian folklore characterizes pysanky as a symbolic, talismanic writing that invokes a higher Universal Power for help, while believing with faithful certainty that It will. The contemporary version of this characterization is a paper-and-pen journaling practice called prayer writing. Both develop a personal relationship with God.
Copyright © 2023 Nancy Kopack.
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