The creation of an Icon

In the writing of an icon, each step is important.

The writing of the Orthodox icon is beginning with a choice of the appropriate wood board. For icon painting purposes usually linden wood used. This Wood has to be prepared and dried in advance.

Orthodox icons at the Art Studio of Viktor Kravtsov are written on linden wood boards with the oak spline and also on the solid alder wood boards.
A long-term cooperation with carpentry workshops in Greece and Ukraine continuing.

In length of time, the wood board could be damaged due to fluctuations in temperature and moisture of the air. To prevent deformation of the icon wood board and cracking of the cold and paint layer, two oak splines are embedded in the backside of the board.

 

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On the front side of the icon, the wood board is covered with a well-gessoed canvas (made from natural flax). It helps to preserve the integrity of the primer. Then, would be applied several layers of special primer, which is called gesso in the iconography. The back of the board is filled with a wax-based protective compound.

The process of hand preparation of the wood board takes about three days.

 

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When the icon wood board is ready, the iconographer makes «outline drawing» — contour drawing of the future icon.

Sometimes a first draft could be done on the paper. For instance, for a custom order of the family icon with the images of the Saints of all family members, we could offer a couple of options in the design of the icon with different combinations of the character’s location, ornaments, additional design elements.

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The process of gilding is one of the most complicated processes.

Correctly done gilding helps to get a right perception of the Orthodox icon.
коны. The parts of the icon, that should be covered with a leaf gold, the iconographer fills with a couple of layers of the alkaline varnish, then – mixtion, which must be kept for three-twelve hours.

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Iconographer Viktor Kravtsov uses true leaf gold, produced in Ukraine, Germany, Italy.

The leag of the gold is thinner, as a humans hair.
Due to the wish of the customer, the gold imitation (composition or metal leaf) might be used instead of the leaf gold.

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Icon painting is done with an egg tempera, based on natural mineral pigments.

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For the craftsmanship of the icon painting different kinds of special professional brushes of worldwide known producers are purchased in Greece.

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You can see the process of the writing of the icon “Theotokos of Vladimir” in Byzantine technique.

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The final step in the process of the writing of the Orthodox icon is covering a front side of the icon with a protecting layer of the varnish.

On the back side of the icon is places the special clamping, so that you can place the icon on the wall. Special clampings were delivered from Greece.

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The icon could be assigned with a special certificate with the description of the icon and used materials. It is certified with the signature of the iconographer and a nominal wax seal.
The certificate could be given by request, in a Russian language only.

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