Description
9 Weeks 15th September 2022 - 17th November 2022
Thursdays
(no class on 13th Oct)
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm UK time
This is a step-by-step Icon Painting workshop.
Suitable for intermediate students or for those who would like to be guided step by step to make sure that they know the process of creating an icon. As an intermediate course, it will deepen your skills and help you to develop new ones.
This time thanks to a suggestion from one of our students we decided to take on the icon of The Holy Face. We hope this will be an image of peace in these troubling times.
The image will help us to learn new skills line, working with white, painting small faces and mastering work on skin tones and hair.
Author of the icon
This icon was written by Emmanuel Cusnaider. This is a modern and painted in contemporary style icon. His work is clearly inspired and based on the work of earlier Iconographer Father Gregory Krug that lived and created in France. You can read about his work here
The course will include demonstrations of every stage of creating an icon.
Basia will guide you in the way that you will be able to introduce your ideas into the image.
The course will include demonstrations of every stage of creating an icon.
Students will be guided to complete their icons in a traditional Russian method but painting in a contemporary style.
Stages of work include:
- Transfering the image onto tracing paper. We will use tracing paper not only to transfer the design but also to learn and explore the shape and the line.
- Transferring finished drawings onto a panel covered with layers of gesso.
- Redrawing with paint. At this stage, students will start learning how to make paints using egg yolk and dry pigments.
- Once all surfaces are covered with enough layers of ground we can start building shapes using lights. In icon painting, we don’t build shapes with shadows.
- Gilding – For those who would like to include gilding this process will be included. You will have choice of doing it with or without it. We will be working for real gold leaf. You will be guided step by step in this process to learn the traditional method of gilding. We will be working with oil gilding.
- Applying final lights and highlights. Finishing.
- It is recommended to wait at least a few weeks before varnishing the finished icon painted in egg tempera. Guidance and demonstration will be provided.
Materials
You can either use the materials that you already have. Or equire mateirals from the list below. Please contact us if you need advice.
Materials needed for the Course:
You don’t need all materials for your first session. It will be an introduction. Please contact us if you want to sign up but not sure if you manage to get all materials before the start of the course.
- gesso panel – recommended size 20/29 cm – you can order plywood panel from us. If you prefer solid wood panel please let us know. You can also now order a proper board from SJ Joinery https://www.facebook.com/SJ-Joinery-100562272583774/ https://edinburghiconpainting.org/product/traditional-gesso-mdf-panel/
- If you prefer solid wood panel please let us know. https://sklepikonografa.pl/gb/strona-glowna/231-nazwa-produktu.html
- A4 tracing paper
- Brushes – squirrel – sizes 2,3,5 and kolinsky size 1 (recommended kolinsky brush https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-kolinsky-sable-brush-round-size-1. Or Rooubloff Brushes.
- Pigments – basic set – Titanium white, Cadmium Red Light, Yellow Ochre, Red Ochre, Cyprus Burnt Umber, Italian Raw Sienna, Cadmium Yellow Deep, Mars Black or Black Iron Oxide. You can buy it here. You need only the smallest containers. https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-artist-pigment
- For gold gilding, if you want to do it – transfer gold leaf here, medium, https://www.stonehouses.co.uk/gold-imitation-leaf/gold-leaf/gold-leaf-transfer/23-75ct-transfer/23-75ct-extra-thick-transfer-5-leaves.html, gold oil size – the smallest one https://www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk/kolner-classic-oil-size-3hr/, hard brush – bristle brush size 2 here BRUSH , shellac – the smallest container- here https://www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk/shellac-varnish-clear-6361/, surgical spirit for cleaning brushes.
- Scissors, cotton wool (small piece)
- Ceramic palette.
Ann Rapp (verified owner) –
This intermediate course flows at a gentle, spiritual pace, yet it is packed with details of the history and meaning of icons along with the knowledgeable and supportive instruction. Our teacher Basia, is an accomplished iconographer who gently and kindly guides students in the craft of icon painting. As an online student from the US, I find each lesson is like a beautiful meditation or church service, and highly recommend the courses for all, from beginners to experienced artists.
John Belstead –
Clear teaching in a gentle manner. Basia’s online courses are great.