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What are religious icons and painting techniques!

Icons are primarily intended as aids to prayer and are often referred to as “Windows into the Kingdom.” The original icons were ‘written’ by iconographers who, it is believed, were directed by the Holy Spirit. Icons are not worshipped directly but they are venerated. In the act of meditation the true meaning of what the icon represents becomes apparent and enables the adoration and worship of God through our Lord Jesus.

Every colour and every line has a meaning. Features are unusual to our Western eyes. Noses are long, breathing in the Holy Spirit, ears are impressionistic, listening to the Word of God, and eyes do not reflect the light because we see through them into the Kingdom. The colour blue denotes divinity, red - the life blood of humanity, yellow/gold - eternal life, green - new birth, brown - the earth from which all things grow, black - death, orange - revolution, and white/silver - purity.

Painting techniques of iconography are closely followed. Many layers of gesso are first painted onto the panels and rubbed as smooth as possible with different grades of sand paper. The original drawing is painted on using a mixture of yellow ochre and distilled water held in the palm of the hand. The outlines are then etched into the gesso with a fine pointed bradawl. Several layers of coloured bole are applied to the areas where gold leaf is to be used. This is then sandpapered again and the gold leaf applied. Finally after many hours of preparation the painting begins with carefully ground pigments mixed with egg yolk diluted with varying quantities of distilled water depending on the stage of the painting. This painting technique is called egg tempera. Colour is applied in many layers working from dark to light. Finally the highlights are carefully painted using fine brushes and built up by cross-hatching.

Using these symbols to read an icon helps us to a greater understanding of the love of God and the gift of His Son.

Nobody really knows when icons began but Eusebius in his ‘History of the Early Christian Church’ in 300 AD talks about having seen portraits of Jesus and the disciples. He mentions a bronze bust of Christ outside the house of the woman with a bleeding disorder. Paintings of Jesus are present on the walls of the catacombs in Rome. Legend has it that St. Luke was the first iconographer and painted an icon of Mary and Jesus and this icon though badly damaged is still venerated.

During the 4th-7th centuries we know that Fundamentalists believed that icons were idols and they destroyed so many icons that there are very few left before the 6th century. However, in 787 at the Seventh Council of Nicea, the argument of St John of Damascus was used to try to defeat the iconoclasts. In essence this stated that because Jesus was born of a woman and became man he could be painted but it was not until the Council of 843 that the matter was finally decided. Iconography was supported by Constantine and from Byzantium it spread to Russia, Greece and the Balkan State.

Whilst every icon tells a story, the simplest method of using them in prayer is as a focus of the eye and the mind. Just as the Jesus prayer can be use in meditation by repetition so icons can be used as visual images, allowing the person praying to concentrate on the love of Jesus and to shut out the distractions of everyday anxieties and concerns that intrude. Not all icons appeal to everyone and it is important to find one that speaks to the individual in its own way. Then the person praying should sit quietly, simply looking at the icon and gazing on the image and allowing the love of our Lord to speak within their heart.

All icons painted by Derek Bird can be commissioned in different sizes and prices will be made available on request.

People may also request particular icons that are personal to them that are not actually on display.

Click here to contact Derek.