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Fall Program 2010 - Ukrainian Folk Art of Potato Stamping

Folk Arts are traditional art forms handed down from generation to generation. The rich culture and traditions of Ukraine is manifested in the wide variety of Ukrainian arts and crafts. Among these is the Folk Art of Potato Stamping. 

Even though the old fashioned art of potato stamping is fun and easy to learn, with the internet and television competing for our attention, this art is not automatically passed on anymore. To encourage this kind of art and pride in our heritage, The Ukrainian Community of Western Pennsylvania held the Ukrainian Folk Art of Potato Stamping program on August 29, 2010 at a Ukrainian Independence Day Celebration at Alpine Club in Bridgeville, PA.

The potato has served as a food for mankind over the past 8,000 years and was first introduced in Ukraine in the 18th century. Some people found another use for potatoes: carved into a stamp, it was also used to decorate everything from wooden cards to cloth. Folk customs reflected the close connection to nature where natural berry juices and dyes made of bark were used in lieu of paint.

Potato prints are a unique way of making beauty. This stamped art is made from a carving you create on a cut-up potato.  To begin, wash the potato and cut it in half either horizontally or vertically. Then, trace a design.   You may want to draw your design on paper first and use the picture as a pattern while you are carving. Your symbol needs to be simple enough that it will print clearly.

When ready, carefully cut away the potato surrounding the shape, leaving a relief of your art, so that the shape protrudes about ¼ of an inch. Also, you may cut away the positive sections, so that you have an outline of you art. Put paint in a shallow dish, so you can 'ink' the stamp in the paint. Dry the potato as much as possible and “ink” it or apply your paint to it with a brush.
Now you are ready to use this shape as a stamp. Go ahead and …. stamp, stamp, stamp!
 
Tip: Your potato stamp will last just for a day, but you can preserve your stamp forever by stamping the design on a white piece of paper with black ink. Once it dries, you can then scan the art into your computer and use it again and again.