How to Make a Coptic Orthodox Icon
An icon provides those of us on earth a window into the holy, the sacred. An icon is a visual statement of Orthodox Christian theology picturing the role of Jesus Christ or the Theotokos (the Greek title for Mary, the mother of Jesus) or one of the saints or a holy day of the church. It is a means to open our hearts and minds through meditation to the power of the spirit of God so that we may be transformed more and more into the body of Christ. Byzantine Christianity has given the world a wonderful tradition of icons, which includes icons of Turkey, Greece, Venice, Crete and Eastern Europe including Russia. A lesser known but wonderful tradition comes to us through the heritage of the Coptic Church in Egypt and Ethiopia.
This article gives you an overview of the steps todetermine whether this is something you wish to explore more. If you do, the next step is to find an iconographer who can lead you in this journey.
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Things You'll Need
- A teacher, mentor, or iconographer, who can be found on this index link: http://www.iconsexplained.com/iec/iec_idb4c_@one_page.htm#names_index A theological expression you want to write visually, A piece of wood, 8 x 10 inches, or whatever size is appropriate for the icon you wish to make. Linen the consistency of cheesecloth. Gesso. Egg tempura or acrylic paints. Paintbrushes. Paper. Pencil. Gold foil. Water. Sandpaper.
Instructions
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In the Beginning
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Ask that God guide and bless you that this entire writing may be to the glory of God and the encouraging people. Since icons are expressing theological ideas, they are considered to be written rather than painted.
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Most beginners choose from a group of prototype icons and pick the one that speaks to them. Look through books of icon collections for one that particularly moves you. Then study the history and meaning of that icon.
Review many images of icons until you see one you feel called to paint. When you have chosen the image you are called to make, photocopy it and size it to your board. They then do a tracing of just the outlines and fill in the cartoon with more detail. After all that, it is transferred to the board using graphite paper.
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A board for an icon usually has an ark or recess carved in the center of the board with a margin that has not been carved. Cover the board with a very thin piece of linen or muslin, the weight of cheesecloth, but more closely woven. This helps to stabilize the gesso. The linen is applied by soaking it in hide or rabbit glue and draping it over the board, which has been elevated. While still wet, the linen is smoothed from the center to the edges and left to drip-dry. After drying, the edges that hang below the board are trimmed. Edges are traditionally finished by applying a mixture of red finely ground clay and hide glue to them. The corners and edges will be very smooth. (The gesso is made with rabbit hide glue, powdered marble and water. It is to create a stone-like surface on which to place the cartoon.) The gesso can be carved and decorative patterns can be added at the corners. The whiteness of gesso represents the uncreated light of God. The cartoon can be etched or pressed into the gesso at this point.
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On areas where gold foil will be attached, apply the red clay and hide glue before adding the gold.Your mentor can help you with the technique and with the meaning of this technique. It represents God creating humankind out of clay. Guild the halo and other areas by breathing on the clay to get a tiny bit of condensation on it, like breathing on a window. Then carefully lay down the gold leaf on top, repeat carefully a few times and burnish it down.
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Traditional icons are written using egg tempera (natural ground pigment dissolved in egg yolk with a little water and a touch of vinegar as a preservative). However, some contemporary icon writers use acrylic paint. Both these paints are water soluble and you won't need turpentine. You will be adding layers and layers of very thin, transparent paint so that all the layers show through to the top, creating the sense of light.
With a mentor's coaching, begin with the background of the icon, adding the darkest color. The mentor can advise the specifics of the painting technique and the underlying spiritual meaning it has. Follow the lines you pressed into the gesso from the cartoon, and outline the features and the folds in the clothing. Skin often starts out as a deep olive drab. The method of applying the paint can intitially symbolize the chaos of creation. Then as thin layers go on they bring order into the chaos.
The first set of highlights are added, then the second, third and fourth. -
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After the icon is finished, let it sit for three or four weeks before applying a warm flaxseed oil as a cover. Place the icon in a warm, dust-free area to dry for a few days to a few weeks. Then take it to your church to have it blessed.
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Tips & Warnings
Because iconography is part of a spiritual tradition, and a type of spiritual language, do not attempt to paint icons without training with an iconographer intimately acquainted with the traditions of icon painting. Otherwise, it would be like trying to learn French without studying with a French speaker. You may make noise, but you'll never be proficient or understood.
References
- Photo Credit http://www.copticchurch.net/cgibin/gallery/index.php?pageType=folder&currDir=./Jesus
