Icon (process update)

[Android]

I have been working on this for the past four months, and its finaly finished. it is a icon of the arch angel michael, based on the russian style of iconorgaphy, It is painted on a gessoed board with egg tempura paint, clay and gold feaf. writing this icon was an amazing artistic and spiritual experience for me, to give you and example, when the gold leaf is applied to the icon you lay down red clay, that symbolizes man made from earth, to adhear the gold leaf to the clay it requires you to breathe your soul into the clay, the moisture of your hot breath binds the gold and the clay together.
every stroke of paint in this has a spiritual corilation. I made this as a 50th birthday present for my mom and her birthday isnt untill christmas so nobody tell her about it, ok :)

http://www.conceptart.org/artist/andrew-jones/images/finalIcon_web.jpg

[I.was.ink]

nice job. Did you know that the angel Miguel( i think thats michael in spanish) represents Jesus. Really its in the bible:)

Nice piece you did there.

[zeitgeist]

i *really* like it, android
you've emulated Roman iconography perfectly.. i think your mom will love it.

btw, i was at the bookstore today. and i was flipping through this game magazine called Play. and in the midst of a Metroid: Prime article was an amazing painting of Samus fighting this HUGE ass plant... thing. and down in the bottom right corner it said Anrdoid Jones. i went "SQUARK! ANDROID! i KNOW you! sorta!" it was very cool finding your stuff out in the public... kinda like i discovered a leetle treasure amongst a HEAP of shit

[SamusNeo]

I don't know what to say. This shows so much thought and craft... it's really incredible. It's wonderful how you emulated that style and yet your hand can still clearly be seen, especially in the wings. Every so often you post something that deepens my appreciation of your work even more. This is one of those. It awesome to see you use your talents for everything from morbid beauty to spiritual "simplicity" (although it is anything but simple). I must once again thank you for sharing. -Chris

[RudeCorleone]

i think thats beautiful

[davi]

that's awesome man..

If you are ever in cleveland you need to check out the mesuem, there is a section devoted just to biblicial iconorgaphy.

[chukw]

Egg tempera?!! Man, that's dedication! Beautiful. beautiful work- it's inspiring to see the old tools wielded so deftly. Your Mom will cry those happy tears...

[ChadTHX1138]

Until I read your comments Andrew I thought, is that the kind of stuff Mark P. and the fellas a Retro are making him paint?

Very interesting how you try so many different ways of painting, Very nice!!

Tell Frank L. & Mark P. Hi for me.

P.s. Al says get off of the roof you might break somthing.

[FrailFreak]

I love how you used the old techniques, that is so awesome!! In how spiritual it is in both creating and the idea behind it. It's so great to see people just crafting ( ..er....i think that's be the right word to use ) instead of just clicking away at the computor. We need more of this stuff! Great piece!

[Cannibal80]

Totally awesome!



:eek: :drool:

I love the fact you actually copied the classical techniques to create this piece of art.

[gekitsu]

i am in awe.

you dedication to what you do is admirable.

[amoe]

yeah... thats very cool...
next year i want to paint a pantocrator for my gf

http://iconsofthefaith.com/Pantocrator.JPG

-amoe-

[reelmesh]

:) This is great!

Images of the "name of the rose" pop into my mind with its dark mood and all the monks in the "Scriptorium" scribbling and painting icons just like that. Beautifull!

Did you use pre-made or your own mix of egg tempera?

[MindCandyMan]

It is admirable that you are branching out so much and flexing not only your artistic muscles but your knowledge of history, etc... Absolutely amazing work. Your mom will love it.

[egerie]

Wow you really went for authenticity there. Did you had to do a lot of research on that technique ? (curious)

My moms' birthday is also on christmas and she asked me to do her some artwork as well tehee :)

[redehlert]

Android -
You're mother will be most pleased for sure! Great style, mood and color.
The gold leaf (and description of application) is simply rich!
You're a superb talent.

Cheers!
D

[kaini]

we have a really old icon at home (it shows maria and baby jesus), from the times when my family lived in russia. My father is praying in front of it every morning before he goes to work. I couldnt appreciate its beauty for long time, because of prejudges towards religion and my narrow taste in art. However once I got familiar with its concept, history and meaning I started to develop deep respect towards Icons.

You did a great job Andrew, your mother will love it !!

[MindCandyMan]

I just came by this info recently and wanted to pass it along cause I didn't know how many people knew this (probably everyone but me heheh)...Egg Tempera was the medium used to create much of the religious painting done between the 12th and 15th centuries. It's water soluble and really archival in nature. Knowing that you used those paints and everything for this painting Andrew made me appreciate it even more! Awesome job. Man when you are like 50 years old I can't even imagine what kind of art you will be pumping out. Great work.

[Android]

thanks for all the feedback guys, I wasent sure how a religious pice of art based on a 500 yeare old technique was going to go over at a concept art forum.

here is a comp of 4 major steps along the way to give a better idea of how the process went. I made it under the supervision of a iconographer master who gives a private classes in Austin, her website is www.iconarts.com for anyone interested

enjoy, and god blesshttp://www.conceptart.org/artist/andrew-jones/images/iconprosedd.jpg

[mtw]

What's the black bar at the top (white in the WIP)?

[dodowa]

waooo~~!

your icon is the very heaven's door! :thumbsup:

[Nekokaiju]

Beautiful...
Nice to know you did it with the old techniques also,
There is something special about the craft
Great job...
Now I want to see a fantasy piece, in the same style...;)

[Loga4]

Andrew,this is really beautiful!
Here in Yu,most people are Ortodox Christians
like Russians,so I know that Icon.
One questions,why didn`t you wrote ArchAngel
Michail`s name on cirillica(Serbian,Greek and Russian
letter)like I think is on real Icon?(just asking,I don`t think
you did something wrong)
Good jop.GOD BLESS!

[Archangelus]

My goodness, this is such a beautiful piece of work!
What makes it more so is the reasons behind your making of it and the process itself. It is forged with depth of heart.
Your mom will be moved to tears. Again awesome work! You are a good and kind son, my friend. God bless you too.

Goodness is the only investment that never fails.
-Thoreau-

[swampbug]

good work. Its nice to break out of the computer and do something with the hands major oldschool style. :)


I agree about moving older relatives to tears with this sort of art from a son, or in my case grandson.

I made a drawing of baby Jesus, and mary gave it to my grandma for x-mas and she was .... moved to tears. She had told everyone over the whole night it was the best gift she had gotten. I had uncles come up to me later that night and thanked me personally for making it, seeing thier mom so happy.


Peace!

[Smeagol71]

I thought I had first posted on this thread when I'd seen your piece Andrew, but I guess I forgot. Too overcome with admiration for your work. Very impressive. Any time someone can create a period piece with such care...it's a special thing! Congratulations!

[afklamer]

Originally posted by mtw
What's the black bar at the top (white in the WIP)?

it's a 3d Frame the scanner went the first time over it and made a shadow

after there was gold it reflected the light so it looks like a white bar

:)

I like religious art althogh I don't believe in anything. Michelangello, Da Vinci, Donatello...

But I've realy problems with this one, on the one hand I like it, and the idea behind it, but on the other hand I never got a hang to this sort of art. so I've splited feelings and thats the reason why i don't know if I realy like it or "your name under the picture" make it nice to me

[madphill]

OUTSTANDING! You are amazing man...I have been watching your art in somewhat sustain until now. Anyone that can work in such a classical style with such accuracy is an A+ in my book, and with the classical media as well? sheesh! I am gonna dig around your profile, because I am really curious what you are doing for a living. You are an inspiration due to your talent and thoughtful intent that shows through your work. Phillip