How to Paint Petrykivka: A Beginner's Guide to Ukraine's Folk Painting Tradition

Petrykivka painting is a vibrant, decorative art form that originated in the 18th century in the village of Petrykivka. Traditionally used to decorate the walls of white-washed huts (khata) and household items, this style was believed to protect the home from sorrow and evil. In 2013, it was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. If you are looking to start your journey into this flower of the soul, here is everything you need to know to get started.

1. Essential Materials

Traditionally, masters extracted pigments from nature — using cherry juice for red, grasses for green, and sunflower petals for yellow. While modern beginners typically use gouache or watercolor, the traditional tools remain irreplaceable:

• The kotyachka (cat-hair brush): This is the most important tool. It is handmade using small tufts of hair from a domestic cat — specifically from the neck or under the paw. These brushes are incredibly elastic, allowing the artist to paint both thick lines and “weightless,” hair-thin details.
• Your fingers: Many elements, especially berries, are created without a brush. Dipping your index finger directly into the paint is a fundamental Petrykivka technique.
• The surface: While it began on white-washed walls, beginners today usually work on white paper, which mimics the traditional background. However, modern artists also use wood, glass, and even black or colored backgrounds.

2. Mastering the Four Basic Strokes

Petrykivka is built on an “orchestra” of specific brush strokes that are combined to create complex patterns. Mastering these four is the first step for any beginner:

Hrebinets (Comb)

This stroke begins with heavy pressure, creating a thick base, and ends with a light, thin, whisker-like line. A series of these strokes resembles a hair comb.

Zerniatko (Seed)

The reverse of the hrebinets — this starts with a light touch and ends with heavy pressure. When placed along a stem, these strokes look like grains of wheat.

Horishok (Nut)

This is created by placing two curved hrebinets strokes opposite each other and filling the center with a zerniatko, forming a shape like a hazelnut.

Perekhidnyi mazok (Transitional stroke)

This creates a beautiful color gradient. A dry brush is dipped into one color (e.g., green) and then just the tip is dipped into a second color (e.g., yellow). The resulting stroke transitions smoothly from one color to the other in a single motion.

3. Painting Berries and Flowers

A hallmark of Petrykivka is the use of imaginary flowers. While they may look like dahlias or asters, they are products of the artist’s fantasy.

• The tsybulka (little onion): This is a core element that resembles an onion cut in half.
• Berries: To paint a cluster of viburnum (kalyna) or grapes, dip your finger into the paint and press it onto the surface. This creates a characteristic round shape that is light in the center and has a darker “ring” at the edge.

4. Composition and Symbolism

In Petrykivka, the design is typically two-dimensional with no realistic perspective. Elements like birds, flowers, and animals are often depicted in profile or head-on.

• The bihunets (runner): Beginners should practice the bihunets, a floral frame or “border” that runs along the edge of a composition. It symbolizes eternity and the rhythmic cycles of nature.
• Symbolic meaning: Remember that what you paint has meaning. For instance, a rooster symbolizes spiritual awakening, while a cuckoo represents the mystery of time.

5. Tips for Success

While legendary masters like Tetyana Pata were famous for painting “by eye” without any preliminary sketches, beginners are encouraged to start with a light pencil sketch to plan their composition.

Focus on keeping your hand light and your strokes “airy.” As you practice, you will find that Petrykivka is a form of improvisation that rewards patience and a love for the natural world.