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Let’s remind ourselves what are Icons and what is iconography, before we explain how to paint Orthodox Icons. Iconography is an ancient technique of Orthodox Christian art which is found in ancient churches and monasteries in Byzantine Empire. Unlike other types of painting, iconography does not start in the painter’s imagination. Instead, an iconographer first have to study hard how an saint has been painted in traditionally way. So, when an iconographer create a new icon, he starts with searching for several examples of particular icon he wants to paint. Most of Byzantine Orthodox Icons depict Jesus Christ, his mother Mary, Saint Peter and many other saints.
Many Painters today are interesting to start to paint Byzantine Orthodox icons, but they are not sure how to do that. Here we will try to explain how these ancint icons are painted and how we can paint icons them too.
Sure, one must have some talent for arts to be successful iconpainter.
Iconographer start with a panel of some soft
wood that is cut to size. Then a piece of gauze or other cotton is glued with rabbit skin glue to iconboard and dried for a few days. Next and very important step is to prepare quality leukas (plaster) from rabbit skin glue and chalk. Many layers of this plaster are applied to the board over cloth . When this is finished we smooth the surface with a piece of sandpaper.
Once the surface of our board is ready, we can proceed with drawing of our Orthodox icon. The sketch is first prepared on the piece of paper and then we tranfer it to the board contours. The surface of our icon now can be gilded with 23K gold . First we apply a few coats of reddish pigment and then the glue of gold, which is known as mikstion (or mixtion). After a waiting period (not more than 24 hours) golden leaves are applied and allowed to dry.
Painting of the icon is next step. To do this, iconpainters use egg tempera which is mixture of egg yolk and natural pigments . The colours are applied in several coats with subtle shades in order to achieve the effect of “otherworldliness” which is typical of Orthodox icons. Natural pigments are very permanent colours, deeper and deeper and brighter with the passage time.
Once we complete painting of our Orthodox Icons, we add on them hallo and inscriptions . The last step is to protect our icon with several coats of varnish.
This is very old method of iconography and requires great precision and care, and constant prayer and humility of the artist.
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Posted in Painting · April 22nd, 2010 · Comments (0)
Timothy Razkani launches site with Donald Gates Abstract Art had come naturally to Timothy Razkani since pre-school. His art teacher Miss Angelo saw his potential and remains in touch with him to this day. She still beleives his best Abstract Art is yet to come.
Abstract underground is going to be the place to go for high quality original prints. The launch is expected towards the middle of April. Timothy found himself amazed at a New York art fair when he brought in over $20,000 with only a few pieces auctioned. Donald Gates found the young man and inked him for a 50% running control of a company they are launching very soon to bring Timothy Razkani’s art pieces public.
They plan to get the man exposure by exploring several internet means of delivery, art fairs, and schools. His paintings speak for themselves in originality. Abstract art is a true art and becoming a great Abstract artist….. Well…. You either have it or you don’t, and Miss Angelo, who was Timothy’s art teacher from a young age, saw potential in the boy and remains in contact with him to this day. Timothy is not much of a business man. Some canvas, paint, paint brushes, and a box of Roman Noodles and he is set for the week. He wasn’t really interested when Donald approached him about making a business deal.
We actually caught up with Donald and this is what he had to say. “I have never seen somebody or met somebody that didn’t care about money. I told him how much money he could make and he wasn’t interested. At the New York art fair he was approached by several business men and they couldn’t strike a deal with him, he kept saying “I just want to paint please leave me alone.” I kept pushing him and pushing him on the money side, but he wouldn’t break. I finally took a different route with him. I pitched him like this “could you imagine just painting and dropping out of school and not even knowing anything about business, but having one of the most successful abstract art businesses in America?” I finally had his attention. Before I said this to him, I thought to myself “he doesn’t want the money, he doesn’t like school, he loves to paint, well…. that is all he loves, but he needs money.” It hit me like a ton of bricks. Timothy wasn’t interested in doing the business because he doesn’t care and nobody had pitched the idea that nothing in his life would change with the business, except his ability to buy art supply and live his dream of painting all the time. He just didn’t want to have his time consumed with things like paper work, all of Timothy’s paper was really canvas work with a brush!!! I asked him what he wanted to call it and with in a second the answer was “Abstract Underground.”
So the world and America can expect to see even more of his work that was submitted to the New York art fair very soon. http://www.abstractunderground.com will be launching very soon. Donald is even considering some more practical measures of getting the art out to the public before the launch. Think just anyone is going to get the art? Not so fast… His first 3 pieces auctioned for an average price of $5,277. Donald is thinking more supply may bring the cost down a little, but not too much.
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Tags: Timothy Razkani
Posted in Painting · March 23rd, 2010 · Comments (0)