The day was a travel day, as we traveled back to Athens. In the morning we made a stop at a workshop that makes religious (Greek Orthodox) icons. I wasn't the least bit interested at the time and I had actually considered staying in the bus to nap. But it was too hot, so I joined the group inside the workshop. In what was another startling discovery, I found the demonstration fascinating.
We weren't allowed to take pictures of the process. I don't know why. We saw how they make the backing for the icon by processing paper and different woods, how the paint was laid on in layers and we saw an artist painting one. He paints inside a mold-like pattern. The faces of the icons are pre-determined, and they all have the same face. The rules were quite strict. For instance, notice in the picture below how all the faces are the same. Icons are not meant to be realistic. .
We weren't allowed to take pictures of the process. I don't know why. We saw how they make the backing for the icon by processing paper and different woods, how the paint was laid on in layers and we saw an artist painting one. He paints inside a mold-like pattern. The faces of the icons are pre-determined, and they all have the same face. The rules were quite strict. For instance, notice in the picture below how all the faces are the same. Icons are not meant to be realistic. .
And Jesus does not have the face of a baby. He's more of a man-boy in a small body.
GREEK ORTHODOX ICONOGRAPHY
