The masters of the Petrykivka painting traveled all night — across Ukraine — to arrive in Kyiv on time and take part in the VI International Veterans Forum.
But they had no idea that they would conduct their art therapy — a master class on Petrykivka painting — even for the American veteran.
George Chewning flew across the ocean to share his veteran experience and, as it turned out, for the first time in his life he painted Ukrainian patterns, which have over 200 years of history behind them.
Masters of the public organization “Masters of Petrykivka Painting” conducted art therapy and demonstrated during the master class that each of us can not only join the historical roots of Ukrainians but also master such an authentic and beautiful technique.
A craftswoman from the Dnipropetrovsk region – Maryna Guba – has been engaged in Petrykivka painting for over 20 years. She teaches children and adults, and during a full-scale war, together with his colleagues, he even goes to the hospital and conducts such art therapy with the defenders of Ukraine. Marina says that art therapy is the realization of personal potential through art, the combination of Ukrainian traditions of the past and present, and restoration through creativity.
American veteran, George Chewning, who joined the Veterans Forum at the invitation of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, shared his impressions of drawing: “Wonderful, I feel relaxed because the process itself relaxes. I don’t know if I will draw in a way that I will be proud of my work, but I will take it to the United States to show it to my family and friends,” added George Chewning.
For reference:
Petrykivka painting, or “petrykivka”, is a Ukrainian decorative and ornamental folk painting that originated in the Dnipro region in the village of Petrykivka, which is where the name of this art form comes from. Some items with patterns in the style of Petrykivka painting have been preserved since the 18th century. Petrykivka painting is not only folk art that preserves the customs of decorating Ukrainian homes, but also modern painting that develops and acquires new features.Activate to view larger image,
