Project Summary | The Process of Making an Icon & It's Meaning | Calendar of Events
The process of making an icon and its theological meaning.
All natural materials have been used to write the icon each having a theological meaning. The whole process of writing an icon is a theological journey, from the bare wood of the crucifixion to the luminous colours of the resurrection.
The board on which the icon will be written is first chosen –
The finished icon will be 52cm X 42cm made out of recycled wood, a pew from Holy Trinity church itself.
Here is Bob from the Maritime Museum boat workshop converting the pew into an icon board.
The wood is a symbol of the wood of the cross. A hollow area is carved out from the centre of the board; this is the sacred place where the word of ‘scripture’ is written in paint.
Trevor and Charles from the Maritime Museum carve out the centre of the icon board.
The wood is then covered with strips of cloth - This symbolises the shroud in which the body of the Lord was wrapped. The cloth is steeped in size and laid down in strips. The size is made from rabbit skin glue and water, the death of the animal is a necessary sacrifice for the icon to be given life.
The cloth is then covered in gesso - The ‘levkas’ is made from mixing the size with a whiting mixture which symbolises the ‘seals of the tomb’. It forms a white stone like material, which represents the new stone on which the new icon will be written.
The icon is then baptized - The water is seen in terms of the cleansing qualities of baptism.
Word of God is the written in stone - I use the drawing I have made and carve it onto the gesso surface. This is the stage I am presently working on.
The icon is then gilded - Gold leaf is applied to the icon, it symbolises the presence of God, like God it does not tarnish, does not decay, and cannot be destroyed.
First the clay bole is placed on the icon where the gold is to be placed. An earthly base on which the divine presence will be placed.
Finally the icon is painted - Egg tempera is the binding medium used for the pigments. The yolk of an egg, which has the potential for life, is mixed with water and vinegar a reminder of the crucifixion. This egg and pigment mixture petrifies and becomes everlasting. The pigments have a death to life quality and are wherever possible, naturally occurring, either washed or baked clays, powdered stone and decayed metals.
This will be done in Trinity Church where I will be artist in residence between the 24th -29 May 2010.
Project Summary | The Process of Making an Icon & It's Meaning | Calendar of Events
