Episode 01: The Icon Painter
Light from egg, colour from earth, gold thinner than a breath. The first episode of our series, in preparation.
A Byzantine icon is not simply painted; in Greek it is said to be "written", as a story is told. It starts with a wooden panel prepared over many days and ends with a face that looks back at you.
In the first episode of our series "The Craftsmen" there is no presenter. The icon painter talks about the work in their own words, in their workshop, at their own pace.
The four stages
- The wood. A panel dried and stabilised, with cloth glued to its surface.
- The gesso. Layers of gypsum and animal glue, sanded until they are smooth as bone.
- The gold. Gold leaf laid on with a breath and burnished with a stone.
- The egg tempera. Natural pigments bound with egg yolk, from the darkest tones towards the light.
When
Filming is scheduled for the autumn. When the episode is ready you will find it here and in the Video section, and its village will light up on the map.
The location of the episode will be announced once the arrangements are complete.
