Ikon painting as a form of meditation

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Ikon painting as a form of meditation

 

In the Eastern Church Ikon painting is a wellknown form of

meditation. The painting is done with a sense of non-individuality.

Each motif of painting is fixed and there is not much room for

individual concepts and ideas. Rules are strict.

Also there is never a signature to the painting -

so the painter normally stays anonymous.

Strictly it is simply a copy of the original.

 

Painting an Ikon needs lots of time and patience as there are many

steps until to the end. One can't to it in any hurry.

It is painted on wood, which has to be prepared

by many steps to make the gold stick later. Then the motif taken

from the original is fixed and the parts which has to be gilded

prepared with poliment coatings. If there is a slight mistake

the gold will not stick later.

Then the gold is put on the poliment fixed only by some

spirit in water - a great exercise in pranayama as

the golden plates are so light that the slightest breath blows them away.

When the gold is "shot on", the time has to be awaited to polish it, what

depends on the humidity of the air and temperature. If too

early the gold will be rubbed away, if too late it will not stick.

Then the gold is polished with an Archat-stone until it shines.

 

Now painting can be started. As there are no colours ready for

painting one has first to mix all the pigments with a mixture of egg yolk,

flat beer and destiled water and make a paste. Pigments react different to the

addition of this bonding agent (some need more, some less),

so each one has to be treated differently.

 

Then in many steps the motif is painted from the dark to the light.

There are also strict rules how to make the lightenings,

how to paint the face, the clothes, the buildings, the trees and animals -

all that has its clear rules.

 

When the painting is ready the scriptures belonging to the motif is

made and the gloriole drawn. Only after this last step the Ikon may

be consecrated. Stricktly an Ikon also should not be sold.

 

This all sounds very complicate - indeed for the beginner it is.

When the technique is known it starts to become very easy.

As it is a slow painting which needs a lot of time it makes the mind

silent and slow also, it is indeed a fine form of meditation. As for

everything there is a rule given there is not much need to engage in

own plans - but strange enough because of that the natural unpersonal

creativity breaks through and gives the Ikon its special expression,

which is felt so much attracting by many looking at Ikons and choose

them as a means for their meditation.

 

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As attachment: Jesus Pantokrator, painted at Mount Athos

 

 

 

 

Attachment: (image/jpeg) Pantokrator.jpg [not stored]