All steps of painting an icon. With master icographer Theodoros Papadopoulos.

[@williamjameslehy1341]

I tried painting my first real icon today, copying off a picture in an art history book. With almost two decades of experience as a realist painter, I assumed that the relatively simply composition of Christian icons would be a walk in the park...boy was I wrong! The simplicity is deceptive, even the most straightforward icon is saturated with a level of subtle complexity that I really wasn't ready for. My icon (one of St Nikolaos of Myra that my daughter requested) looks fairly crude and cartoonish thusfar, a far cry from the orderly composition and delicate brushwork you show here. I'd previously done a fairly passable copy of the famous Christ Pantocrator from St Catherine's Monastery in Egypt, which is of course more rooted in the panel painting traditions of Egyptian-Roman antiquity, which is basically a slightly stylised but primarily realist mode of portraiture. The icon style of Eastern Christianity may look simpler on the surface, but it seems that that's like how graceful ballerinas make their thousands of hours of gruelling practise look effortless. At any rate this video has been helpful, I'll keep at it.

[@pr.mogaadrian1918]

that happend to me to... i guess we were both wrong

[@actusspei6688]

adr Adrian , And, third.

[@jsross3353]

I thought the same. I love icons and never tried to paint one but looking at this and other tutorials I realized it will be quite a struggle for me

[@eleftherias.3065]

Η βυζαντινή αγιογραφία δεν είναι απλώς μια πτυχή της ζωγραφικής. Η βυζαντινή αγιογραφία είναι ένα είδος ιερής τέχνης, η οποία είναι αλληλένδετη με την Χριστιανική Ορθόδοξη πιστη και με όσα διδάσκει. Για να γίνει κάποιος αγιογράφος χρειάζονται κάποιες προϋποθέσεις. Ο αγιογράφος πρέπει να είναι βαπτισμενος Ορθόδοξος Χριστιανός. Αν δεν είναι, πως θα εκφράσει αυτό που ζωγραφίζει, εάν δεν το πιστεύει; Μια άλλη προϋπόθεση είναι η ενάρετη ζωή. Ο αγιογράφος πρέπει να μετέχει στα μυστήρια της εκκλησίας με συχνή εξομολόγηση και συχνή μεταληψη των Αχράντων Μυστηρίων, καθώς και στα υπόλοιπα μυστήρια της εκκλησίας, ώστε να έχει όσο το δυνατόν καθαρή ψυχη, όταν πιανει τα πινελα του να αγιογραφησει. Πόσες φορές όταν ψυχική μας κατάσταση δεν ήταν καλή, π.χ. είχαμε νευρα ή ήμασταν λυπημένοι το έργο μας δε βγήκε καλό; Οι παλιοί αγιογράφοι όταν ζωγράφιζαν έναν Άγιο, μελετουσαν τον βίο του, και κατά τη διάρκεια της αγιογραφίας προσευχονταν, ενώ όταν αγιογραφουσαν το πρόσωπο του Αγίου νήστευαν. Είναι επιεικώς απαράδεκτο για κάποιον να αγιογραφει και ταυτόχρονα να καπνίζει, ή να ακούει άσεμνα τραγούδια. Η εικόνα δεν είναι ένα διακοσμητικό αντικείμενο που θα στολίσει το σαλόνι μας. Η εικόνα είναι ένα λειτουργικό αντικείμενο και η σωστή της θέση είναι ή στην εκκλησία ή στο εικονοστάσι για να προσευχόμαστε. Εν κατακλείδι, οποίος θέλει να ασχοληθεί με την αγιογραφία, δεν πρέπει να το κάνει ως χομπυ με ελαφρά την καρδία. Αν όμως υπάρχει αυτό το εσωτερικό κάλεσμα να ασχοληθεί θα πρέπει να είναι συνειδητοποιημένος ως προς τις προϋποθέσεις του να γίνει κάποιος αγιογραφος, και βελτιώνοντας τον εσωτερικό του κοσμο, πλησιαζοντας το Θεό μέσω της αγιογραφίας.

[@southernlady5085]

@williamjameslehy1341Icons are quite a spiritual journey in their writing! You will love it! It's such a meaningful form of prayer.

[@rachelcoleman4693]

I love the lines of the eyes.

[@ioneugenia4768]

So beautiful Icon!!!I love painting Icon!!!Slava Lui Dumnezeu pentru toate!!!🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Wacholderwald]

I love the subject and the choice of Mozart's music to accompany your work!

[@Master_Blackthorne]

He makes it look so easy!

[@emilyawood]

I love the color contrast in the face from teal to yellow to orange, I haven't seen anyone else do this. They always use a dull olive color.

[@southernlady5085]

I noted that as well. I learned a method that used a dark brownish-green color for the sankir (base color), then orange, and different shades of yellow. Been awhile since I painted (wrote) an icon. I like this particular technique very much. The layers of paint are more subtle for the skin. Highlights on the clothing are sublime! I'm hoping to write icons again. I'd like to give this base color a go.

[@southernlady5085]

Gorgeous! Thank you for posting!

[@colourwheel5703]

Wonderful to see the process. Thank you for sharing.

[@bradpena]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 amazing!!! Felicitaciones, gran trabajo

[@MatinaPapagiannarou]

Είναι εξαιρετικός ο τρόπος με τον οποίον περνάει το ένα χρώμα μέσα στο άλλο. Υπάρχει μια γλυκιά μετάβαση. Μου αρέσει πάρα πολύ δουλειά σας, καλή συνέχεια εύχομαι!

[@maggiemondaini6971]

Sei bravissimo!!!!

[@popikrini5486]

Είστε φοβερός. Μπράβο σας.

[@ladymoor2]

Thank you. very beautiful !

[@naly202]

it's interesting how you paint the garments, we were taught to paint sharp edges at the different layers light, you smooth the edge of each layer as for the face! very interesting! and very beautiful result.

[@jacintalataes1279]

linda técnica. parabens

[@jsross3353]

Amazing!!! How long does it take to finish such painting? I haven't tried one yet but I love to.

[@Protectyourmindfromlies-c1w]

Lord Jesus Christ, bless this man who is very talented. I wish I could paint like him. The angels are so sweet.

[@Protectyourmindfromlies-c1w]

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for making this video available to us. Give me the grace to be able to paint like this master of Icon painting.

[@tamerov2387]

Wow this is wonderful!

[@ryanjordan6295]

The most unexpectedly difficult part of the process is mixing the egg tempura paints to the right thickness before your apply them!

[@kaxtorplose]

You can use oils. It ain't against the law. Plus, oils are easier to paint with because they take a couple of weeks to dry, and you can use that time to correct mistakes.

[@kaxtorplose]

For egg tempura, the ratio should be 1 part egg yolk to 9 parts water. I dunno about the pigment, I've never painted an egg tempera icon. However, I've used oils and recommend them for beginners because I'M A BEGINNER with icon painting. The reason why I recommend oils for beginners is because they stay wet for a couple of weeks, and during that time, making corrections is a lot easier with oils, which stay malleable for a long while. Acrylics? Sure, acrylics work just fine. I've painted one icon with acrylics and even though the paint dried quickly, you can still paint over any mistakes. Acrylics aren't my favorite, though. I dunno if or when I'm gonna give egg tempera a try. I've painted several icons for people who wanted egg tempera, but the risk of using an unfamiliar medium vs what I'm comfortable with, well, I'm gonna have to experiment with egg tempera on my own dime and see how it feels before I start painting with egg yolk. I mean, take this into account, too... what if there was a nuclear war and I had amassed this ginormous vault of egg tempera icons? Would YOU EAT THEM? I'm sorry to say that I'd fry up an egg tempera icon for breakfast, for sure.

[@harveycaesar8768]

pls, how to make skin color (mix)

[@marleenemcwilliam8657]

My friend will be on your Denver icon painting workshop in July. I'm very happy to see your site...........do you come to Canada at times - especially around the Toronto or Ottawa or Montreal area? Would love to take a workshop with you.

[@Theodoreicons]

Hello Marleene, I will be holding a workshop in Buffalo NY in July 2017. Buffalo is just 98 miles from Toronto. For detailed information on this workshop please click the link below. www.theodoreicons.com/buffalo-new-york-july-28-august-3-2017.html If that workshop doesn't work for you we can schedule a workshop for 2018 in Canada. If you are interested contact me at [e-mail]

[@juliasaunders6866]

What is this style called, please?

[@amberb9502]

Lovely!!

[@lessonshagiography6273]

Το πινελο που χρησιμοποιητε ειναι σαμουρι;

[@surenderverma7576]

aapka office kha h

[@dylanchouinard6141]

Who was the Saint being painted?

[@Theodoreicons]

Saint Victor.

[@dylanchouinard6141]

Theodoros Papadopoulos thank you

[@ΣτέλιοςΦράγκου]

Καλησπερα σας! Τι χρωματα χρησιμοποιειτε?

[@Theodoreicons]

Τα χρώματα είναι σκόνες. Αντί για αυγό τις αναμειγνύω με πρώτη ύλη.

[@taniola007]

πολύ κατατοπιστικό! τί πινέλα χρησιμοποιείτε?

[@Theodoreicons]

Χρησιμοποιώ πινέλα με συνθετικη τρίχα.

[@lorrainelewis473]

Tania Lazaridou and

[@k98killer]

Not sure how this is considered "all steps" when the base of the icon had already been completed before the video began.

[@whosestone]

I'd imagine that, as an instruction, the actual learning begins where processes differ between painting styles. Which it does.

[@rickyfargason8859]

I think egg tempera would be a nice medium for icons painted on wood.

[@surenderverma7576]

sir je grat artist

[@Mi5hqa]

Have a look at my icons and other handmade items here! www.etsy.com/listing/641345789/beaded-necklaces

[@marcosolis9686]

Super kaos musical

[@tanyamedina5334]

🙏🐶🌍😄🙏

[@SalveRegina8]

Good luck to me.

[@shambhumaity6366]

Para poli orea.

[@Zarovnyk]

:D

[@stefaniassmoldoveanu960]

😂😂😂😂😂