Discover the Master Artisan pathway (MAP), Egg Art International's egg art certification program featuring professional judging, artist education and internationally recognized awards. Master Artisan Pathway (MAP): Egg Art Certification Program The Master Artisan Pathway (MAP ) is Egg Art International's premier egg art certification program , created to encourage artistic growth through education, professional assessment, and recognition. Open to artists of all experience levels, MAP provides a structured pathway for developing skills, receiving expert feedback, and earning internationally recognized certification in the art of decorated eggs. What Is the Master Artisan Pathway (MAP)? Whether you specialize in pysanky , carving, engraving, painting, sculpting, or any other style of egg art , the Master Artisan Pathway offers an opportunity to have your work evaluated by experienced judges. Each entry is assessed by two or more judges who provide constructive feedback designed to help artists improve their techniques and advance their artistic abilities. Based on the scores awarded by two or more judges, artists may earn the following certifications: Bronze Certificate – Advanced Beginner (70–79 points) Silver Certificate – Intermediate Level (80–89 points) Gold Certificate – Advanced Level (90–100 points) The maximum possible score is 100 points. Earn the Title of Master Artisan Earning a Gold Certificate recognizes an artist as an Advanced Level Artisan . Artists who continue to demonstrate excellence may achieve even higher distinctions: Master Artisan - Awarded after earning five Gold Certificates in any combination of the same or different styles. Supreme Master Artisan – Awarded after earning eight Gold Certificates in any combination of the same or different styles. These prestigious titles celebrate consistent artistic excellence, technical mastery, and dedication to the art of decorated eggs. Examples of the Bronze, Silver, Gold, Master Artisan, and Supreme Master Artisan certificates are shown below. Mission of the Master Artisan Pathway (MAP) The mission of the Master Artisan Pathway (MAP) is to elevate the art of egg decorating by promoting excellence through education, professional assessment, and recognition. MAP encourages artists to continually develop their skills while preserving and advancing the artistry of decorated eggs. Benefits of MAP The Master Artisan Pathway provides artists with the opportunity to refine their skills through constructive evaluations by experienced judges. Each assessment offers valuable feedback designed to help participants improve their techniques, strengthen their artistry, and achieve their full creative potential. MAP certification is a respected credential that can enhance your professional reputation as an egg artist, instructor, or exhibitor. Whether you teach, sell your work, or participate in exhibitions, your certification demonstrates a recognized level of artistic achievement and may be displayed with your artwork, included in your résumé, or featured in your professional portfolio. Designed to support artists at every stage of their journey, MAP is a forward-looking program that recognizes and celebrates excellence across all styles of egg art . How to Apply Most MAP entries are evaluated through photographic submissions , a widely accepted method of assessment. To ensure your work can be judged accurately, please read the Photo Submission Guidelines before submitting your application. Some entries may require in-person assessment due to the techniques used or the difficulty of capturing important details in photographs. Even when in-person judging is required, photographs must still accompany the application. To apply: Complete the online application form (one form per entry ). Submit a minimum of six photographs of your entry labeled: Front Back Left Side Right Side Top Bottom You may also include additional photographs showing the interior or other significant details. Remove or conceal all identifying information. Your name must not appear on any photograph, and any signature on the egg should be covered before photographing. If you are unsure which category best fits your entry or have any questions about the application process, please contact us before submitting. Once a complete application has been received, our goal is to provide the assessment results within 29 days or less . Applications that do not meet the submission requirements will be returned with a request for resubmission. Disqualifications An entry or artist may be disqualified from the Master Artisan Pathway for any of the following reasons: The entry is not created on a real eggshell . The egg was produced from a seminar project or instructional kit. The design is copied from or created by another artist. The artwork contains vulgar or sexually explicit content. The artwork depicts violence of any kind. The artist engages in unprofessional conduct, including demeaning, bullying, or harassing behavior toward other artists or their work. Other Important Information To help ensure a fair and impartial assessment, we strongly recommend that you do not share your MAP entry on social media or other public platforms before it has been judged . Maintaining confidentiality helps prevent unintended bias, and judges who recognize an entry will recuse themselves from evaluating it. We also encourage artists to submit recently completed work . Entries created more than five years prior to submission are discouraged, as natural aging and deterioration of materials may affect the assessment, and newer work provides greater educational value for both the artist and the judging process. Preparing Images for MAP Judging Please read these instructions carefully. Entries that do not meet the image submission requirements may be returned for resubmission. Introduction Preparing images for digital judging differs from preparing images for printing. Following these guidelines will help ensure your artwork is presented accurately and can be evaluated fairly. If you photograph your entry in JPEG (.jpg) format, always keep an unedited copy of the original image. Each time a JPEG image is edited and saved, a small amount of image quality is lost due to file compression. To preserve the highest possible quality, save your original photographs in a separate folder or on another storage device and create your submission images from those originals. Image Submission Requirements The following requirements are mandatory for all MAP submissions. 1. Image Quality Sharpen your images if desired and if your editing software supports it. Save all images in JPEG (.jpg) format. Each image must be 2 MB or less . The total upload size for one application must not exceed 25 MB . 2. Required Photographs A minimum of six photographs is required, showing the following views: Front Back Left Side Right Side Top Bottom You may also include up to two optional photographs. We recommend including one additional image with a different background, as this image may be used in the MAP Gallery on the website. If your egg opens, include a photograph of the interior labeled Inside. If your entry includes mechanical movement, submit a video no longer than 10 seconds. 3. File Naming Name your image files exactly as follows: Front Back Left Side Right Side Top Bottom If applicable, label the interior image Inside. 4. Identification Do not include your name in any file name. Do not allow your name or signature to appear in any photograph. 5. Background Use a plain whit e or plain black background. Avoid glare and distracting reflections. Do not digitally remove or replace the background. 6. Camera Angles For consistent judging, photograph your entry from the following viewpoints: Front, Back, Left Side, and Right Side : Photograph at eye level with the center of the egg. Top : Photograph directly above the egg, looking straight down. Bottom : Photograph the underside of the artwork. You may need to carefully lift or support the piece to capture this view. Other Helpful Tips for photographing artwork for digital submissions. Rev. 2-20-2025. Please note revisions will occur periodically. Egg Art is a changing art with new materials, styles, equipment etc. We reserve the right to update as needed to improve the program or reflect these changes. Always read thru all the information before submitting an egg to ensure you are in compliance with any changes. Other Tips for the perfect photo

16 categories of eggshell art assessment is outlined for the Master Artisan Pathway "MAP". Master Artisan Pathway- "MAP" Kategorie i wytyczne „MAP” MAP Categories and Guidelines GENERAL GUIDELINES Only original designs using real eggshells will be considered for assessment. Any size of eggshell, unless otherwise stated can be used. Designs using more than one egg, for example two eggs forming a heart shape, can be entered for assessment. Judges will score the following categories : Creativity and Originality - Only original designs allowed. Composition and Design - Use of the Principles and Elements of Design (Line, composition, space, movement, balance, emphasis, pattern, unity, color, contrast, rhythm, texture, value, form) Technique Craftsmanship and Presentation Degree of Difficulty Overall Impression CATEGORY GUIDELINES Where one or more techniques are used, please select the category which applies to the main technique. If you are unsure, you can ask for assistance by contacting us. Click on the photos to see a larger picture. ACID ETCHING A design where acid is used to remove areas of the shell to create a design. The overall design and technique execution will be assessed, and the level of difficulty will be taken into account. (Eggs, such as an emu, where different color layers exist will require more careful attention to detail). APPLIED WAX A design where wax is applied as part of the design and left in situ as part of the decorative technique, such as Madeira work, cross-stitch style etc. The even application of the wax to the egg will be considered, along with the complexity of the design. The judges will be looking for a mix of technique to include ‘drop-pull’. Additional cut work will add to the level of complexity. ART BATIK A design which uses the basic techniques of waxing and dyeing, without using traditional Pysanky motifs. This style of work is decorative and is not constrained by tradition. ARTIST’S CHOICE Let your creativity run riot with this category - any style, any combination of technique or use of material. The usual criteria of good workmanship will be assessed. BEADED or JEWELED A design where the main focus of the work involves the application of beading or jewels. Attention should be paid to the careful placement of beads, smoothness of the finish and uniformity of any pattern, such as a basket-weave. Other techniques can be incorporated. CARVED The shell should be carved into to create relief work, using a technique which involves deeper scoring of the shell than the scratch carving category. Attention should be paid to creating clean, smooth cuts. The carving should be well-balanced, and other techniques can be incorporated into the design. DÉCOUPAGE Attention will be paid to the accuracy of cutting the paper print (decals are not permitted) and the surface finish of the egg after the print has been buried. The surface should be perfectly smooth, free from blemish and should not have any unwanted particles embedded in the finish. This category is one where the egg has to be judged ‘in person’. DIORAMA The main focus of the design will be a scene that is created within the egg; however, this can also extend around the egg. The level of detail included will be assessed, however the exterior of the egg will also be looked at in detail. Any items made by the artist should be mentioned as this will be of benefit in the assessment. The usual criteria of a well-balanced and tasteful design will also apply. HAND PAINTED or DRAWN The design must be original and can be in any style; however, the complexity of the work will be given additional credit, and it is expected that the submission will show proportion, balance, and if appropriate, shadow, depth and good use of color to create an overall pleasing piece of work. INTRICATELY CUT Intricate cut work is the main focus of the work involved. The level of difficulty in terms of working with thinner shells will be taken into account, as well as the neatness of the cutting, the removal of membrane and the general balance and design of the work presented. MECHANICAL A design which incorporates movement within the design. The mechanisms used could be battery powered, using pulleys etc., but must operate smoothly. The judges may request a short video of the egg in action to determine the level of movement involved. Unless creating movement in addition to music, musical boxes do not fall into this category. The overall design, innovation and technical expertise will be assessed and taken into account when judging. MINIATURE A category where any style of work is acceptable, however the entire design (including the stand and any added items) should fit within a box 3" x 3" x 3" (7.5 x 7.5 x 7.5cm). Work will be assessed with the usual criteria of execution of techniques used, neatness of workmanship. Complexity of design and skills used will also be taken into consideration. MIXED or OTHER MEDIA Lots of scope for creativity in this category where a distinct additional style of work is added to the egg, such as polymer clay work, popotillo, quilling, scrimshaw and other paper crafting techniques (such as paper constructions/origami). This should not include work that falls readily into other categories such as paper sculpture work. Attention will be paid to the execution of the different techniques displayed with both being of an acceptable standard. Ingenuity will be a factor in the judging as well as the general standards of workmanship. NOVELTY A design which displays an unusual and novel concept. Examples could include a tea service, method of transport (car, boat etc.), wearable egg art. Attention will be paid to the unusual concept displayed in the entry as well as the general execution of workmanship and complexity of technique. PAPER SCULPTURE Paper Toile and Bas Relief fall within this category. Both methods of work include the accurate cutting of paper prints which are then built up into a 3-dimensional finish. The raised paperwork should be firm to the touch. The finished work should exhibit neat cutwork, and the design can be raised against the shell with the edges all touching the egg or, alternatively, certain areas can be raised permanently. Suitability of the paper print and originality of its application to the egg as well as the accurate execution of the technique will be taken into account. PYSANKY-DIASPORA This category allows the artist to combine traditional motifs (we require the artist to provide an explanation/meaning behind the symbols) with a free interpretation to create an original design using the wax and dyeing techniques. SCRATCH CARVING A design where the egg is dyed using either a natural or chemical dye and the surface ONLY of the shell is manually scratched to create shading, texture and a pleasing design. We wish to thank the artists who participated in "Egg of the Month", Master Artisan Pathway and the IEAG Master Program whose egg art is shown. These are all considered fine examples of the styles shown.

Our mission is to promote all types of egg art, also known as eggshell art or egg decorating worldwide. Our mission is also to raise the quality of the art to the highest level and develop public interest in the art thru education, exhibition and sharing. Join today! Our Story On January 25, 2023, Egg Art Internationa l was founded by Dr. Leslie Lisdell and Co-Founders Linda Martin and Kathy Hamilton. Dr. Lisdell, a physician by trade, had collected egg (shell) art for many years and started her own exploration into this beautiful art form in 2016. She was joined by Linda Martin, owner of Linda Martin Egg Art Designs and Kathy Hamilton, owner of the Eggery Place , to make this idea a reality. Our goal is to create an international organization dedicated to promoting egg (shell) art thru outreach, education, scholarship and promotion. On May 14, 2025, we were approved as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which will help facilitate our goals of promoting egg art, teaching and providing egg art scholarships. Our organization's website is the world's largest and most comprehensive information and educational hub for all things pertaining to egg decorating or egg art. What is egg art? It is the art or craft of decorating eggs. Some people call it egg decorating and some call it egg art. Egg art is a form of creative self-expression that involves decorating eggs with various materials, techniques, and themes. The art of decorating eggs has evolved into something separate from religious rituals, proving to be a new form of creative expression. Artists today are taking the art of decorating eggs to the next level. There are so many different styles of egg art. More common styles include pysanky, batik, carving, Fabergé style, etching and more. It is amazing there are so many different ways to make an ordinary eggshell into an exquisite piece of art! Our team has already made great progress, and we have lots of exciting plans in the works. We are adding new content almost daily. Make sure to visit the Resources section where you will find suppliers, books, videos, show dates, teachers, helpful hints, patterns and more to make your own decorated eggs. From children to advanced artists there is something for everyone to enjoy and learn. Mission Vision The MISSION of our organization, Egg Art International , is to promote all types of egg art worldwide, raise the quality of the art to the highest level, and develop public interest in the art through education, exhibition, scholarships and sharing. We are committed to supporting all styles of egg artists regardless of their financial capability. As such, we do not charge for membership or the Master Artisan Pathway. We strive to make this website a source for all to learn and benefit from. Please consider donating today so that we may continue on this important mission. Our VISION at Egg Art International , is to bring awareness of all styles of egg art into current and future generations throughout the world. We seek to encourage new artists, young and old, thru education, fostering and promotion. We are currently setting up programs to introduce egg art into schools as well as other places. So many exciting things are being developed! Egg Art International , is committed to making sure your privacy is protected. We do not sell membership lists or emails and all information is strictly confidential.