Batik Pineapple Ostrich Egg

Steps:

1. Divide the egg into equal vertical halves (as if the egg was standing up) using the tailor's measuring tape. Wrap the tape measure horizontally around the middle of the egg. Lightly mark on both sides of the tape measure on the eggshell at the halfway mark on each side with a pencil.

2. Remove the tape measure and lightly draw a line all the way around the egg vertically, connecting the marks. This should divide the egg into two equal halves, vertically. Now draw another vertical line in the middle of the lines or halves just made, dividing the halves just made into quarters. Now divide the egg into equal halves horizontally, so that there are equal halves on top and on bottom.

3. For the pineapple design, (pencil in lightly), draw parallel lines to the vertical and horizontal lines already made. The parallel lines should be approximately 1 inch from the first lines drawn. Place the measuring tape along each line quarter line and mark off 1-inch increments.

4. Next, draw diagonal lines in both directions through each 1-inch grid mark.

5. To create the top part of the pineapple, draw triangles from the top center circle to the center point of the next circle in the grid. Then mark triangles from the first circle grid to the center point of the second circle grid all the way around. Draw triangles from the second circle grid to the third circle.

6. Once the penciling of the grids is completed, prepare for the first dye bath. Insert a beeswax plug into the hole at the bottom of the egg so that no fluid will get inside the egg.

7. Carefully place the egg in a large bowl and slowly pour the yellow dye all over the eggshell. Allow the egg to remain in the yellow dye bath for several minutes, rotating it every minute or so to insure an even coat. Remove the egg from the dye bath and pat it dry with a cloth towel. Allow the egg to air-dry for several minutes. The dye can be re-used so pour it back into the container.

8. To begin the waxing process, light a candle, set out the kistka tool and a piece of beeswax. Decide the areas to remain yellow in the final design. The hot wax will be applied over these areas. Heat the kistka in the candle flame and scoop a small amount of beeswax into the funnel part of the kistka. Reheat for a few seconds and write with the funnel tip on the egg, depositing the wax on the egg.

9. Make the longest strokes possible. Be careful in this process because too much wax and/or overheating the kistka will cause the wax to drip onto the eggshell and cannot be corrected. These lines of beeswax preserve or seal the yellow onto the shell. Apply dots of wax in the center of the diamond grid below the crown of the pineapple.

10. When the yellow waxing part of the design is complete, blow out the candle. Immerse the egg in the light green dye bath for several minutes, rotating the egg to cover completely. Remove the egg from the light green dye bath, pat it dry with a soft cloth towel and allow it to air-dry for several minutes. Pour the green dye back into the container for re-use.

11. Apply beeswax to the egg with the kistka tool over the green areas of the egg to remain green — namely the crown and base of the pineapple, in the same manner as the application of the wax over the yellow dye.

12. When the green waxing part of the design is complete, blow out the candle and immerse the egg in an orange dye wash. The orange dye is used as a wash on this piece because of the way that colors react with each other. The orange wash is used to actually remove the remaining green that has not been waxed, before moving on to the brown portion of the design.

13. After removing the egg from the orange dye wash, pat it dry with a dry cloth. Allow it to air-dry for several minutes.

14. Immerse the egg in the brown dye bath. After removing the egg from the brown dye wash, pat it dry with a soft cloth. Allow it to air-dry for several hours.

15. Light a candle and have an old soft cloth or throwaway T-shirt handy.

16. Carefully hold the egg into the side of the candle flame until the wax looks "wet" or about 2-3 seconds.

• Be careful not to hold the egg over the flame or get it too close to the flame because carbon will collect on the shell and darken the design.
• Also try not to heat too large a portion of the egg at one time.
• The eggshell is also heating up and if it gets too hot to handle, you could burn yourself and/or accidentally drop the egg.

When the wax appears wet, wipe it off with a clean soft cloth or old T-shirt. Continue this process until all the melted previously applied wax is off the shell.

17. Apply the varnish or finish to the batik pineapple ostrich egg! Follow the directions on the spray can for spraying the final finish.

Kent West took a vacation to Hawaii from Colorado 19 years ago and never went back. One day in a bookstore, he picked up a book on Ukrainian art. The process of batiked egg art using a kistka fascinated him. He then taught himself the unique process and has been obsessed with it since.

Website: www.eggsactly.org