Learn how to paint Byzantine Icons (Part 2)

Learn the traditional tempera method for Byzantine icons, blending egg yolk with dry white wine and pigments (Alia) to create liquid paint, as oil painting rose in the 16th century.

Paint a Byzantine icon of Jesus Christ using gilding and a carefully mixed palette of egg mix, navy blues, black, and white, guided by the PDA resources.

Apply light lines with a white egg mix, test colors gradually, and avoid strong contrast when outlining clothing folds in Byzantine technique. Layer yellow ochre and red ochre with blue.

Mix colors to define exterior contours with raw umber and red ochre, add shadows, then gild. Paint the gospel book in blue tones with four hearts symbolizing the four gospels.

Lesson five of part two guides mixing basic colors from orange, egg, ochres, and white to paint gospel book ornaments and skin, with raw umber for shadows and ruby gemstones.

Paint the pupils with pure black, gradually add shadows and details with more intense color, and don’t hurry—add layers of shadows.

Mix yellow ochre, primary yellow, vermilion, titanium white, and egg with basic skin color to create a light skin tone for smooth transitions, then apply with water in thin layers.

Mix basic hair color with rumba and basic skin tone, then apply raw umber shadows. Add light with the basic light skin color to harmonize hair and face.

Mix basic light skin color with vermilion, orange, and water for smooth lips; apply a second light layer, use white for eye highlights, and refine with precise, related color mixes.

Apply the same painting ideas to both the face and hands, completing the technique in this lesson.