Technique
How an icon on glass is made
The workshop's icons are painted in oil on the back of the glass, in reverse order: what is painted first is what you see in front.
- I
The underdrawing
“The first stage (and the most difficult) in making an icon on glass is the ink drawing on the back of the glass. To keep to the tradition, at this stage I use only a nib or a brush.”
The drawing is “the skeleton of the image”: any mistake at this stage is almost impossible to correct later.
- II
Painting
“Next comes painting the scene” — in vivid oil colours, with the rich decoration of Transylvanian peasant icons, still on the back of the glass.
- III
Gold
“…applying the gold or silver leaf (on the back of the glass, of course)” — on the halos and on the details that must shine.
- IV
Framing
“Then the painting is protected with a plywood backing, framed, and looked at (with admiration) from the front of the glass.”
