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- Ukrainian Folk Painting with Soul and Symbolism
- ✨ What Makes Petrykivka Unique?
- 🌸 The Language of Symbols in Petrykivka Decorative Art
- 🖌 The Magic of the Cat-Hair Brush in Petrykivka Art
- 🌺 The Viburnum Berry in Petrykivka: Painted by Hand
- 🎨 What to Expect in the Class
- 🌍 Who Attends?
Ukrainian Folk Painting with Soul and Symbolism
Step into the world of Petrykivka painting — a vibrant Ukrainian folk art tradition where each brushstroke carries beauty, meaning, and ancestral memory. This series of art classes are guided by Liudmyla Makey, a skilled artist and cultural ambassador who brings warmth, depth, and authentic technique to every session.
✨ What Makes Petrykivka Unique?
Inscribed in 2013 (8.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The people of the village of Petrykivka decorate their living quarters, household belongings and musical instruments with a style of ornamental painting that is characterized by fantastic flowers and other natural elements, based on careful observation of the local flora and fauna.
Local people, and in particular women of all ages, are involved in this folk art tradition.
Every family has at least one practitioner, making decorative painting an integral part of daily existence in the community.
The painting traditions, including the symbolism of the ornamental elements, are transferred, renewed and enhanced from one generation to another.
Ukranian majstrynia (artists) teach the fundamentals of Petrykivka decorative painting, with all children given the opportunity to study it.
🌸 The Language of Symbols in Petrykivka Decorative Art
Petrykivka painting is more than just ornament — it’s a symbolic language rooted in nature, tradition, and protection. Originating in central Ukraine, this vibrant folk art was used to decorate homes and everyday objects, offering both beauty and meaning.
Each element in Petrykivka carries a symbolic message:
- 🌸 Flowers represent harmony, renewal, and the cycle of life. Bouquets often express balance and emotional wholeness.
- 🐦 Birds symbolize freedom, the soul, and love — often shown in pairs, they bring warmth and connection.
- 🌿 Leaves and vines stand for growth, strength, and continuity, weaving together the elements of life.
- ☀️ Sun-like shapes and circular forms protect the home and represent vital energy.
These motifs, painted in flowing, layered strokes, are not just decorative — they are meant to guard, uplift, and connect the human spirit with nature and tradition.
🖌 The Magic of the Cat-Hair Brush in Petrykivka Art
One of the most unique tools in Petrykivka painting, Ukraine’s iconic decorative folk art, is the cat-hair brush — a handmade instrument known for its precision, softness, and symbolic charm.
Traditionally, these brushes are crafted using a single tuft of naturally shed cat hair, tied to a wooden stick or match. The softness and taper of the hairs allow artists to create Petrykivka’s signature "kryvulka" stroke — a delicate, comma-like mark that forms the flowing patterns of flowers, leaves, and feathers.
What makes the cat-hair brush so special is its ability to deliver both ultra-fine lines and organic movement in a single motion. In the hands of a skilled artist, it brings to life the graceful rhythm and emotional richness of this centuries-old art form.
More than a tool, it carries the spirit of tradition - reminding us that beauty often begins with the simplest materials and the gentlest touch.
🌺 The Viburnum Berry in Petrykivka: Painted by Hand
In Petrykivka art, one of the most important tools - beyond brushes - is the artist’s own finger.
Using a fingertip, artists create delicate elements such as flowers, berries, and especially the iconic viburnum clusters (kalyna), a cherished symbol in Ukrainian culture.
A true Petrykivka kalyna is said to be authentic only when it bears the fingerprint of the artist - a personal, tactile imprint that connects the artwork to the human hand and heart.
This method is traditional, and deeply symbolic: each berry carries the presence, warmth, and intention of its creator.
🎨 What to Expect in the Class
Learn traditional Ukrainian motifs
– Flowers, birds, leaves, and viburnum (kalyna) berries, each with symbolic meaning
Use unique tools
– Try the cat-hair brush for delicate, flowing strokes
– Create berries and details using your own fingertip, a signature Petrykivka technique
Work with quality materials
– Richly pigmented paints
– Natural paper suitable for folk decorative art
Be guided by an experienced artist
– Taught by Liudmyla Makey and Anna Congedo, who combine artistic skill with a warm, intuitive teaching style
🌍 Who Attends?
Our Ukranian community in Kosovo willingly teaches its skills and know-how to anyone who shows an interest. The tradition of decorative and applied arts contributes to the renewal of historical and spiritual memory and defines the identity of the entire community.
Our Petrykivka workshops attract international participants from all backgrounds — artists, travelers, curious beginners, and cultural explorers. No prior art experience is needed.
Whether you're Ukrainian or new to the culture, this is a beautiful way to connect to stories, symbols, and self-expression.