(This is the fourth post in a series on writing an icon in the Orthodox Christian tradition. To start at the beginning, click here.) Once the lines are drawn and inscribed on the gesso board, I’m itching to get my brushes and add some paint. Not so fast. My teachers had a very specific step-by-step […]
The Lines of the Image (The Writer’s Inner Life)
(This post is third in a series on writing an icon in the Orthodox Christian tradition. To start at the beginning, click here.) If I were more advanced, I would be putting my own drawing on the board. I would work on a classical model, thinking hard about issues of geometry, style, and symbolism as well […]
Gesso on a Wooden Board (The Writer’s Inner Life)
(Second in a series on writing an icon in the Orthodox Christian tradition. Click here to start at the beginning.) It all starts with a white gesso board. No. That’s not right. The board is not actually white with gesso, ready to receive lines and paint, until the fourth step of the process. If I […]
Writing an Icon (The Writer’s Inner Life)
Recently I told the readers of my newsletter that I’m exploring writing of another kind: I’m “writing” an icon as taught in the Orthodox tradition. I asked them to let me know if they would be interested in reading about the process. A number of people said “Yes.” Precisely the same number of people clicked “Unsubscribe.” […]