FIVE DAY ICONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP WITH MASTER ICONOGRAPHER VLADIMIR BLAGONADEZHDIN

VLADIMIR BLAGONADEZHDIN – May 2017
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Website – www.iconsart.com

Vladimir (941) 451-8292
vladimirblago@yahoo.com

Class size is limited to 20 students. Minimum 10 students.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A studio course teaching how to make religious icons in the Byzantine tradition. Students are led through the preparation of the icon support, background, egg emulsion, pigments, and gold leaf application. Traces the historical and theological basis for icons, divine rules, and prayers for iconographers.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students will:
– work with traditional materials, recipes and methods used by ancient and modern artists
– create icons using the egg tempera technique
– understand and demonstrate the use of color transparency, calligraphy, gold leaf application, and gold painting;
– understand the preparation of egg tempera for dry pigments and other paints;
– learn why and how, from ancient times, eggs, vodka, garlic, beer, vinegar, chalk, and animal glue were used for iconography;
– show understanding through application in paintings how to apply transparent thin layers of paint using the puddle and brushstroke techniques in order to use color and transparency to create a glowing effect;
– prepare paint from natural gold and how to apply varnish by hand on the finished painted surfaces;
– develop an understanding, and analyze aspects of the theory and history of iconography.

MATERIALS:
All equipment and materials (gessoed wooden panels, gold leaf, pigment, brushes, etc) are provided by the instructor covered by the additional fee payment.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Students must attend each class without exception.

PROPOSED COURSE OUTLINE:
DAY 1
Lecture on theory of iconography, usage of traditional materials, tools, paint, varnishing technique, and students choose subject and composition for their icon.
DAY 2
Continued application of base colors using the puddle technique and further application of additional layers of color
Learn about transparency of egg tempera paint and the ultimate effect that is to be strived for; learn about importance of consistency (thickness/thinness) of the paint in achieving the desired effect.
Learn about calligraphy of lines in iconography
DAY 3
Emphasis on practicing the technique of calligraphy in iconography, painting lines using egg tempera paint, ink, and gold paint
Learn about how to use different consistencies of paint and different techniques when doing calligraphic lines with egg tempera paint, ink and gold paint
DAY 4
Learn “brushstroke technique” and importance of consistency and transparency for different colors and different paints
Learn about the technique of application using the brushstroke technique with respect to different colors and light effect
Calligraphy of lines, ornament and lettering
Technique of painting traditional Byzantine jewelry
DAY 5
Continuation of painting using brushstroke technique
Completion of painting, correction of mistakes
Traditional method of varnish application by hand over the painted surface, completion of the icons

INVESTMENT: $5000.00
(Includes all equipment & materials)

For organizers:
Guaranteeing to instructor round-trip air tickets, hotel for stay during the workshop, transportation from and to the airport.
For information contact :
Vladimir (941) 451-8292
vladimirblago@yahoo.com

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