Byzantine Iconography Painting Series 2: Hair and Beards 1

Continue your artistic journey in Byzantine Iconography with Welcome Painting Series 2! This series focuses on mastering the art of painting realistic hair and beards, a crucial element in traditional icon painting.

This series is structured in three accessible parts, building upon foundational skills. If you're new to icon painting, we highly recommend completing Series 1: Drawing Faces and Painting Series Part 1: Painting Basics beforehand to ensure a strong starting point.

Part 1 will guide you through painting simple, short hair (like that seen in depictions of St. Dimitrios) and short beards (similar to those of Christ).

Part 2 delves into painting long hair and long beards, expanding your skillset.

Part 3 explores more complex styles, including curly hair and grey hair and beards, allowing for greater artistic expression.

Here's a list of the basic materials you'll need for this icon painting tutorial series:

• Pigments: Yellow Ochre (or Iron Oxide Yellow), Iron Oxide Black, Light Mars Red (or Red Ochre)
• Medium: Mars Red, Titanium White
• Binder: Egg Emulsion, Egg White, White wine
• Optional: Lavender or Basil essential oil
• Tools: 2 Plastic dropper bottles (for egg emulsion and water), Paint brushes (rounds with a good tip, flats and riggers), Palette for mixing paint (glass or plexiglass optional), Container of water, Paper towel
• Paper: Hot press watercolour paper (for painting exercises)

Each lesson includes valuable resource PDFs with detailed photographs of each painting stage, as well as images of related icons to inspire your work. Get ready to enhance your painting skills and create beautiful, authentic icons!