Religious Icons

The creation of a custom Icon is a difficult and time consuming process. After the subject of an Icon is decided upon, the style is chosen and the subject researched in order to understand and include all necessary elements. Icons typically include hidden meanings behind the elements shown. For instance, the element of colors used in an Icon are usually pre-set, as specific colors represent different things such as majesty, peace, virginity, wisdom and etcetera.

A full-size drawing is made of the proposed work, and a copy is e-mailed to the customer for their review and approval. Once approved, the drawing is traced onto the selected panel, and then the tracing is etched into the plaster or gesso panel using a fine-point tool. At this point the necessary gilding is applied where needed, and the panel is ready to accept paint. Egg tempera is a luminous, translucent medium that must be applied in multiple layers in order to obtain the opaque quality necessary for different features.. An Icon is written (painted) in a reverse manner from other painting styles. The darker colors are applied first, layered with progressively lighter colors to obtain the final shadowing effect. Each layer must dry completely before another color is applied. As an example of the complexity involved is the face of the Icon subject, which typically requires seven or more layers to complete. 

Once the subject is completed, the border of the icon is etched and colored. The title of the Icon (typically in Greek or Russian) is applied last, and the Icon is left to dry. After the drying process is complete the Icon is sealed in order to provide additional protection for the tempera over the years to follow.