| Taylor Made Icons & Pysansky | |||||||||||||||||
| Byzantine-Style Icons |
The tradition of icon painting dates back for centuries in the Orthodox Church. These icons are painted according to traditional techniques of egg tempera on panel. The panel is hand prepared with 12 or more coats of freshly made gesso (consisting of water, glue and powdered marble). After the gessoed panel is sanded, the image is painted in egg tempera, an emulsion consisting of dry pigment, egg yolk, purified water and glue. The finished product has a unique luminosity difficult to obtain by other mediums, such as oil or acrylic. Panels range in size from 4"x6" to 9"x12", and are priced from $75 to $1,000. Price is determined by size, detail of the subject, whether or not gilding is used, and whether or not an existing or commissioned item is requested. Subjects range from images of the Savior (Pantokrator), the Mother of God (Theotokos), and various saints, such as Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, St. Sebastian, and St. John the Baptist. Modern images can also be painted using these traditional techniques. | ||||||||||||||||
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Pysansky is the art of egg decorating using a wax resist method, whereby beeswax is "drawn" on the egg, which is colored in successvie dye baths (the term "pysansky" actually refers to the finished product itself rather than to the process). Each time wax is applied to the egg, the color beneath remains unchanged when treated by subsequent dye baths. Once the design has been completed, the wax is melted away to reveal the intricate and colorful design beneath. The egg is then emptied of its contents, and coated in polyutherane to provide a glossy finish and increased durability. Prices range from $12 to $50, depending upon the detail and intricacy of the pattern, as well as whether an existing and commissioned item is requested. Traditional designs and motifs are used. Many of these designs, as well as the individual colors used, have specific meanings. Non-traditional designs can also be used. For example, a single snowflake design in white on a red or blue egg can be used to create Christmas tree ornaments. | Ukranian-Style Pysansky | ||||||||||||||||
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| For More Information |
Taylor Johnson received his Master of Fine Arts degree from The Catholic University of America in 1986. His interest in icons was sparked by a trip to Russia in the winter of 1987, where he had a unique opportunity to view icons as well as Russian fold art first-hand. For more information about icons and pysansky, please feel free to inquire using the e-mail addres provided below. Thank you for visiting Taylor Made Arts! | ||||||||||||||||
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