When you think of artists, you usually think of painting on a canvas or paper.

But Diane Shewchuck’s medium is a simple egg.

“This is an ink pen, and I actually put it against the candle and into the wax, and I actually write on the egg,” Shewchuk said.

Pysanka is a tradition from Ukraine that involves artists both writing on eggs and dying them to create unique patterns.

“Spring is a time of rebirth, eggs are a symbol of rebirth and it’s been like that since pagan times,” Shewchuk said.

With Ukrainian roots, including a family that immigrated from the nation, Shewchuk enjoys passing along this rich tradition with residents here in the United States.

On Saturday, she displayed the designs at a Capital Region museum.

Shewchuk says events like these spark meaningful conversations.

“The arts are a place where there is a lot of mutual ground,” Shewchuk said. “There is a Pysanka peace movement right here in the area and around the country. There’s a legend where as long as psysanka are made in the world, the world will continue to exist.”

Each of Shewchuk’s eggs features intricate designs, with no two looking exactly alike.

Some eggs carry messages of hope and peace amid the crisis in Ukraine.

Shewchuk says she supports the nation that is like another home to her, including bringing awareness through her work.

“Whether you’re looking at a French impressionist painting or our Ukrainian Easter egg, it represents where it was made or comes from, and the symbolism from that country,” Shewchuk said. “This is the right time of year to show this, and the right reason to share it this year.”