16 mistakes of Beginners Αγιογραφία

[@claudiapopa3169]

I found your videos a few days ago. The best videos in iconography, very useful. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@PaintingtheLight]

Claudia thank you so much!! I am very glad the channel is helpful to you!! :)

[@cindylemarier4102]

I love to watch you paint. You give us a great education. Thank you

[@blancabraden]

You are a great artist and have a lot of experience. So glad that I found your account. I have always loved religious icons . You give glory to God with your excellent artistry . Thank you so much for sharing your artistic genius style.

[@lrkpr]

I'm really excited to find your channel as I'd love to learn to paint icons but I didn't know where to start... Now I feel inspired! I know it shouldn't matter but it helps that your voice is very relaxing too.

[@PaintingtheLight]

Omg Lucy thank you so much for saying this.... I really am not comfortable with my English and voice and much unsafe... So thank you so much for commenting nice about my voice... I appreciate it!!

[@virtuozz4621]

It IS REAL help and generous charing of the priceless Knowledge and Experience from REAL Master of the Art. Billion Thanks to you Master ... It's the miracle what you have shown to public at back stage of this video, too! I have seen how my dream come true under your Gold Hands. Amazing beauty and skills and power of the Soul combuned. You' re Magilton Master. Took all my hats off to you. You're definitely The Best. Very Beginner from Australia.

[@leonidasCorfu]

Great tutorial on tips to correcting mistakes and issues. Thank you for your video and the time you have put into it. Keep up the great work it's much appreciated! I look forward to seeing more of your future and watching your past ones.

[@fevronija]

Wonderful advice, thank you! I enjoyed the natural speed scenes so much!

[@nikos-pc9yt]

Hello, I discovered your channel a few days ago, your work is very inspiring me, your tutorials are helping me become a young iconographer!

[@PaintingtheLight]

Ευχαριστώ Νίκο... Χαίρομαι πολύ!

[@nikos-pc9yt]

@@PaintingtheLight Παρακαλώ! Μπορείτε επίσης να δημιουργήσετε ένα βίντεο σχετικά με το πώς να βάψετε το φύλλο χρυσού; Ευχαριστώ

[@jimmy2035]

Great list Antonis. All are important. My favourite is to respect the Icon as a long term piece of work. I have used expensive acrylic canvas made for tempera and I've had no issues, yet. One mistake I've made in the past that you didn't mention was I made a gesso canvas which I glued to plywood but not glued well enough and the panel had air bubbles, not a good look. I regret doing that poor workmanship. Na se kala, I really appreciate your videos even as a well-taught iconographer I still learn from you. Thank you.

[@PaintingtheLight]

Jim thank you so much you are great!!!

[@zlatko6846]

Bravo majstore Hristos pomegju nas.sekoja cest,da si zdrav i ziv

[@PaintingtheLight]

Τhank you so much

[@riahka1357]

I'm glad I found your channel. Your videos are so helpful! Thanks

[@gif-h9h]

Συγχαρητήρια που μοιράζεστε την γνώση σας με όλους μας! Ο Χριστός να σας φωτίζει και να στηρίζει το έργο σας! Θα παρακαλούσα να μας παρουσιάσετε και την διαδικασία με το βερνίκι ή όποιον άλλο τρόπο εσείς χρησιμοποιείτε στο τέλος της αγιογράφησης της εικόνας.

[@PaintingtheLight]

Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ!!! Πολύ καλή ιδέα!!

[@zacharyteeter1905]

Thank you for all your help, advice, and experience. While I am respectful of your opinion that icon should only be painted in egg tempera, I have to disagree. Icons have been painted in many color mediums over the centuries and have never been limited to just one medium. One of the oldest and most famous icons is in a monastery in the Sinai desert. It is not egg tempera it is wax. Other Byzantine icons are not painted at all. They are mosaics. Many more historical examples exist of other mediums. On a personal note I’ll never use egg tempera because it is expensive and not available here where I live. If I had to use tempera I’d never paint an icon. Again, thank you so much for your help and time, you have been the best teacher for my art since I started painting.

[@PaintingtheLight]

Thank you so much!!!!! The comment is so welcomed too!!!!!!

[@farbecht2098]

I agree with you, that in the early days of iconography there were other techniques creating an icon. I also am astonished by the effects of encaustic. As well as icon but also the fayum portraits are a great example for it. But its realy tricky and hard to execute. Just as well as fresco. If we see iconpainting not just as a creative but also spiritual prozess, than we start from the darknes by adding the dark base lines, representing the absence of light and aim for the godly light by adding light to our colors. The more light we add, the more we see it`s beauty. So we need a medium that dries fast so we can work on it. That would exclude oil. We need really smoth colour shifts, which excludes acrylic colours Not many painting media give you the posibility to be work with from glazy to alsomst pasty, ans so reach the amazimg colour shifts but also very sharp lines. Near to egg tempera and not as expensive as pigments are gouache colours. Not the same, but also not that bad. The coulors are less shiny. They are much dryer so I would add some egg-water -mix to it instead of pure water to delute it and make it more fat. It adds a shine to the colour and makes it more elastic. And also thank you antonis for sharing your experience with us :)

[@zacharyteeter1905]

@@farbecht2098 I would have to disagree that oil is disqualified. In fact I would be bold enough to say that sidewalk chalk is not disqualified either. An icon is made Holy by 2 things according to the 7th ecumenical council. The name written on it and the image of the prototype. If oil is disqualified than every single icon in the church that I go to when I am visiting family is not an icon? They just about have there iconography project finished. It’s just about floor to ceiling, and in our metropolis iconography HAS to be approved by the Metropolitan. Next nearest church of that size has painted stained glass in the Byzantine style on the iconostasis right up front. I’m guessing with acrylic glass paint. Are these not icons? The monks at the local monastery produce screen printed icons for sale, along with computer printed icon cards. Are these not icons? What is so special about egg tempera that is going to make an icon and all these other examples not an icon? Write an icon with sidewalk chalk of The Theotokos and I will venerate it. The ground it is written on would be blessed by such a holy image and name. I think proper practice and technique with any color medium will make an icon. If I am wrong then why would a metropolitan approve these iconography projects? I’m willing to bet if you look around at churches you will find a lot of acrylic icons as well.

[@graziacavasino8884]

I totally agree. I chose to use watercolours on paper and I do know I am painting replicas, not traditional icons, yet I can see my favorite medium adds much light and freshness in what I would otherwise consider too stiff for my style. As far as true gold leaf is concerned, well... I would love to but I simply cannot, my gilding abilities are poor and I cannot afford wasting precious material.

[@zacharyteeter1905]

@@graziacavasino8884 Yes another watercolor Iconographer! All I have to say is it traditional? No. is it an icon? Yes! There is a journal of Orthodox arts that is named close to what I typed, check out what other iconographers are doing with Watercolors and acrylics, a lot of the Icons are not in people’s homes but in churches and cathedrals. It will amaze you. Don’t get me wrong I’m not an egg hater, I just want to debunk that all icons have to be egg tempera. People that use egg tempera are masters as far as I’m concerned. They can make paint out of ground up rocks and chicken eggs, this is some sort of magic. I have a hard enough time painting and they can do that and make the paint too.

[@fevronija]

A short video on varnishing would be much appreciated!🙏

[@nikos-pc9yt]

I know i'm seeing this a little bit late since i'm pretty new to your channel still but thank you so much for these tips, the wood one saved my life because I use cheap wood since its the only wood I can find in my area. Thanks again!

[@PaintingtheLight]

Ευχαριστώ πολύ Νίκο!

[@maryburke8004]

Thank you Antonis. Really sound helpful advice! and advice

[@PaintingtheLight]

Thank You!!

[@anna14campbell]

Thank you for your videos! I've been painting icons for about a year now but l became so guideless by now. Not traditional enough style, not well prepared wood, not enough patience to learn. I decided to take a small break, watch your videos and start over and they help me immensely. Orthodox traditions aren't widely known in my country, I'm not sure l can get egg tempera and a bit unsure about how to use gesso, my main worry is not being able to access the right materials, my painting skills l pick up quick enough.

[@PaintingtheLight]

Thank you so much for sharing this..... I am very happy for that.

[@anna14campbell]

@@PaintingtheLight I'll keep watching them, l'm sure I'll improve with your videos and find the inspiration l truly needed to continue. God bless you, thank you so much for your teaching!

[@jeannewillis4207]

I love your videos. Just watching you paint is a pleasure. I'm curious as to what your recipe is for egg to liquid. I've been using egg yolk to white wine in equal amounts. Also what brushes do you recommend?

[@PaintingtheLight]

Jeanne thank you so much.... It means a lot.... I have a video on how I prepare egg tempera. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aam0fGODfN-rbLc The recipe is one part yolk, one part water and few drops vinegar. So simple. I use Kolinsky brushes that are soft and appropriate for delicate water medium painting like egg tempera... Feel free to send me your progress! :) @ [e-mail] Have a beautiful night

[@2damnspec1al]

Great video! You explained very well

[@PaintingtheLight]

Thank you soo much!!

[@virginiedesjardins7108]

I agree with you 99%.

[@Ron-wf1tt]

Bravo. is there any difference in the process between gessoing with acrylic or rabbit glue? can you make a video more specific about woods and preparing the wood?

[@PaintingtheLight]

Τhats a great idea.... Well I would paint egg tempera on rabbit skin glue, and acrylic, on an acrylic gesso. Rsg gesso accepts better the color I think although nowadays acrylic gesso can be fantastic.... Really cannot answer that easy this question!

[@virginiedesjardins7108]

My gesso never cracks when I apply it on a linden wood boards but I have had issues with my gesso cracking on Russian birch plywood. Any advise on what to do so that cracking does not happen?

[@veronicascanlon8979]

Hi Antonios! I am an inspiring iconographer. I have met someone who does beautiful iconography in acrylics as she has children and doesn't want the pigments around her kids, and as I plan to have kids as well, i decided to also do acrylics. is there any advice you might have for me as I begin? You don't seem too fond of acrylic for iconography, so I want to ask why? Thanks!

[@maramao2266]

Hi Veronica! Are you Italian? I'm asking for it because I'm Italian and I'm not so good in english. I'm a student iconographer. Acrylics are not the good choice as you can see in this video. Do not be afraid about pigments. You must always store them in special pots that are designed to be sealed properly. If your concern is about the toxicity of some colours, don't worry. It is always possible to create a proper palette, complete and historically accurate.

[@rominacamilleri8011]

I would like to ask you what varnish do you use on the gold leaf please?

[@PaintingtheLight]

I spray varnish the whole icon with a varnish appropriate for egg tempera when I finish the icon

[@rominacamilleri8011]

@@PaintingtheLight could you please specify exactly a brand

[@ekaterinafr]

Χαίρετε, υπάρχει περίπτωση να σας ακούσουμε και στην ελληνική γλώσσα;

[@djsannisanidias7419]

Thank you for the advice

[@eleftherias.3065]

Το ίδιο ήθελα, να πω κι εγω, αλλά κατανοώ το γεγονός ότι είναι χρονοβόρο. Μήπως όμως είναι εφικτό να βάζατε ελληνικους υπότιτλους; Κάπου στις ρυθμίσεις του βίντεο το ρυθμίζουμε.

[@ProGAMER-mh2bm]

Την άλλη φορά dragon ball, ωραίο Βίντεο 👍👍

[@PaintingtheLight]

Ευχαριστώ πολύ!!! :)

[@mairipappa7518]

Καλημέρα σας, συγχαρητήρια για αυτό το υπέροχο βίντεο, τώρα κατάλαβα γιατί οι εικόνες μου μετά από 20 χρόνια άρχισαν να ξεφλουδίζουν, δυστυχώς, δεν μου έμαθαν ποτέ να χρησιμοποιώ κουνελόκολλα όπως θα έπρεπε, μπορείτε σας παρακαλώ να μου πείτε τις σωστές αναλογίες ; Συνεχίστε την όμορφη δουλειά σας !

[@PaintingtheLight]

Eυχαριστω πάρα πολύ.... Ίσως κάνω κάποια στιγμή ένα βίντεο για την προετοιμασία....δυστυχως δεν μπορώ να το απαντήσω αυτό εδώ στα σχόλιά είναι αρκετά περίπλοκο. Ευχαριστώ πολύ όμως που σας φάνηκε. Χρήσιμο το βίντεο! 😊

[@morgannorman7089]

Is it possible to do a gessotutorial please??

[@PaintingtheLight]

There is a great tutorial o. KZbin that I follow too! How prepare board for icon... Something like that

[@ΒασιλικήΚουρεμένου-γ9λ]

Θα ήθελα πολύ να ακούσω και στα ελληνικά το μάθημα σας

[@thanasis8767]

Κύριε Αντώνη σε καρτολήνο μπορούμε να αγιογραφίσουμε με αυγοτέμπερα;

[@PaintingtheLight]

Nομιζω όχι το καλύτερο

[@thanasis8767]

Ευχαριστώ πολύ

[@warbler7]

I am a student of iconography where I learned at a Romanian Monastery (The Dormition of The Mother of God at Rives Junction, Michigan). I am mostly a sinner, but I did learn to write iconography there. And my heart was saved there, and I am still there. My “attempts” at iconography are lacking in terms of technical processes. You would not agree with the mothers at this monastery. They use acrylic medium and they inscript (carve) into the gesso. And teach it. I disagree that such a practice is ugly, or amateur. It provides a beautiful depth which draws modern people into the garden of holy beauty which the specifics of technical processes are unable to do. Of course, we do not sacrifice the truth of the faith for passing fashion, but the reality is that iconography is no longer for its worship function. It seems that it has a second function - I. E. to expose the modern world to the Orthodox Christian Church. If it were otherwise, your videos would be meaningless, you are only speaking to the choir, so to say. My point is that I haven’t seen much in terms of Orthodox teaching in the videos I have watched. Only your opinions as to the “proper” way to paint an icon.

[@PaintingtheLight]

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I am just a simple worker of iconography and the arts. I am not teaching the theory of iconography here, just the technical aspect of that (as best as I can/know), as I presume many of the old masters who were literally illiterate did. No perfection here... Just sharing some ways, and some thoughts. I hope you will find something helpful. 🙂

[@montanagurl9029]

He keeps using a word in his videos I can’t understand. It sounds like “p r o p o s e m o n t s”. Any one out there want to interpret for me??

[@PaintingtheLight]

Hi Montana!! It's Proplasmos. The base color of each area. It accepts shadows and lights. Thank you!!

[@kromakusa]

It has a similar meaning to the English word "underpainting", although in Greek it means also "pre-form".

[@danielrenos1647]

Byzantine iconography is a tradition not secular.

[@PaintingtheLight]

Thank you for commenting!!