Russian Easter Imperial Eggs: masterpieces of elegance, inventiveness and craftsmanship from Carl Faberge

In this session, you will learn about a special Russian Easter tradition that started in 1885 and ended in 1917 in Saint Petersburg. The unique Easter eggs were created and custom ordered for Russian Emperors as holiday gifts to their family members. Each of the one-of-a-kind designs featured richly pigmented layers of glass enamel, gold leaf and laced metalwork; they were handcrafted using gold, diamonds and semi-precious stones like emeralds and pearls.

This session will feature a presentation about the Faberge Easter Eggs; audience members will also examine various eggs’ visual images, including a variety of forms and materials that made Faberge Easter eggs objects of art.

At the end of the session, everyone is invited to create a watercolor Easter card. Materials for the card, such as special watercolor card paper, paints, brushes, egg-stencils and more will be provided. Participants will also have a chance to mail the card after its creation if they wish to.

About the Presenter - Anna Conway

I have been painting since 2017; the focus of my watercolors is primarily landscapes and nature subjects, many of which were inspired by European Russia as I grew up in Moscow, Russia. When I was growing up in the Soviet Union, colored pencils and watercolors were the most affordable media used in public schools for art projects, so I was most familiar with watercolors.  Fast-forward twenty-five years, I started painting with my toddler, we used our fingers and brushes with watercolors, and the medium just grabbed me. I am always so inspired to paint when I see nature’s beauty surrounding me, especially trees, skies, and landscapes. My artwork evokes emotion that has been drawn from my experiences traveling in Russia as well as escaping the big city to stay at the family summer cabin (also known as the “Russian dacha”). Sometimes I paint from my imagination, trying to convey what I feel.

The joy of having watercolors at hand is that it allows me to continue the journey of exploring my artistic expression and finding my visual ‘voice’. I am in love with the beautiful vibrancy of colors that is achieved with the use of water in watercolors. I always use a lot of water when I paint; I am a big fan of the “wet-on-wet” technique as water makes the pigment float, transition, move, and react-it is so beautiful and often creates unexpected effects.

My professional background is in the Education field, I hold a Ph.D. in Education and due to my full time job in higher education, I only paint in the evenings and on weekends. I live in Johnston, Iowa and I am a member of the Iowa Watercolor Society. You can also explore my paintings through my personal website at www.artbyannaconway.com.

Adults 18+. Please register online or by calling 515-278-3945.