With superb new photographs and 16 additional pages, this revised edition of Gilles Weissmann’s best-selling title celebrates icon painting and its rich history. Focusing on the traditional methods of sacred art, this detailed and practical guide covers every relevant element.
Table of Contents
Introduction 5
Origins and principles 7
The incarnation 7
The tradition of the holy image 9
The icon’s pictorial language 12
Tools and materials 17
The panel 17
Drawing materials 18
Gilding materials 18
Painting materials 18
Pigments 19
Varnishes 19
Choosing a subject 21
Preparing the panel 25
Choosing the wood 25
Preparing the support 25
Preparing the glue 28
The gluing process 28
Attaching the fabric 29
Adding the gesso 30
Sanding 33
Byzantine drawing 35
The Byzantine style 35
Drawing on paper 40
Drawing with a paintbrush 44
Gold 49
Applying gold with oilbased size 49
Applying gold leaf using water gilding 51
Colour and light 53
A radiance of colour 53
Traditional use of colour 54
The iconographer’s palette 54
Opening the icon 57
The shadows 58
Facial highlights on paper 62
Adding the highlights to your icon 64
Adding the final touches to the figures 78
Using the drybrush technique 81
Other icons, stage by stage 86
Inscriptions 109
Adding the name 109
Examples of inscriptions 109
Olifa and varnish 115
Pre-varnishing 115
Olifa 115
Varnishes 116
Gallery 118
Author's icons 118
Bibliography 139
Acknowledgements 141
An iconographer's prayer 143
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