GESSO & GILDING: MONDAY - FRIDAY: July 16-20, 2012

WRITING THE ICON: MONDAY -FRIDAY: July 23-27, 2012 (scroll down)

Venue: Marydale Parish Hall 9am -5pm. Refreshments & lunch provided.

Extensive materials are provided on the course, but you will need to obtain the items on the lists below.

Refer to the other pages in this section if unsure what they are.

Materials can be obtained by mail order from:

Cornelissen: http://www.cornelissen.com/   Stuart Stevenson http://www.stuartstevenson.co.uk/

What we will do in the Gesso and Gilding Week, July 16-20, 2012

1. *We will prepare a basic gessoed board- the surface on which you paint and gild an icon or any tempera painting. Gesso is also used for gilded picture frames and related techniques ( wood, glue, fabric, several coats of glue + whiting).
   

2. *On a second board, we will create a gilding sampler ( bole for gilding, water-gild, oil gild, assiste gild with egg tempera paint, punched gold & swinging a halo).
   

3. *We will gesso a third board, gild and incise it ready for painting.
   

What you will need for the Gesso & Gilding Week, July 16-20, 2012

Icon board preparation

1 x piece of plywood 30cm x 20cm for your plain gessoed board.

2 pieces of plywood the same size are provided on the course ready gessoed.

(if you are experienced, you can bring a custom made board, with your design ready incised).

A decorators cork sanding block ( it looks like a very small cork block - B& Q or other handymen store)

Some strong cotton rags ( not fluffy)

2 palettes with deep holes or an ice cube tray.

You will also need an ordinary water glass and two glass jars.

Brushes

For gesso: 1 x  large hog hair brush, “round fitch” - about size 6 (for glue & gesso)

For bole & oil gild: 2 x flat synthetic brushes - a) 10mm. b) 4mm (e.g Pro Arte series 106).

For assiste gild: 1 x Rigger, size two ( very long and thin - Pro Arte series 103 is fine)

For egg tempera paint: 1 x sable watercolour brush, size 5 (Kolinsky sable series 80A are reasonably priced)

Design & transfer

If you are experienced, you can bring your own design.

A small selection of design templates suitable for beginners are provided.

2 or 3 sheets of A3 paper

2 x A3 sheets of tracing paper or a bigger single sheet.

2 x 2b pencils ( not HB)

Craft knife ( do not bring a pencil sharpener)

Putty (kneadable) Eraser ( this is a proper drawing eraser which does not damage the paper)

Springbow compass ( the screw bar holds the points steady)

Set square and ruler.

Notebook and something to write notes with.

For design transfer to gesso: Metal point ( e.g. Cornelissen heavy scriber for etching  or a sewing awl/stiletto)

Conte crayon (this is a hard pastel crayon. Red brown or burnt sienna is best)

Gilding Materials

You will find a full list of the gilding materials you need here:

http://www.sanctiangeli.org/Sancti%20Angeli%20Icons/Sancti_Angeli_Icons/Materials_for_Gilding.html

What we will do in Writing the Icon Week, July 23-27, 2012

1. *On the first day, students will transfer their design to the icon board. We will look at the colour palette, how to make tempera & start a colour sampler.
   

2. * On the second day we will make a tonal guide and painting through the week in this order - dark base colours, building form, shaping the light, final lines and lightning flash.
   

3. *Experienced iconographers can prepare/gild their own board beforehand with their own design subject for studio coaching.
   

4. *If you want to do your own design but need help apply here for one-to-one online design preparation: http://www.sanctiangeli.org/angels_shop.html
   

What you will need for Writing the Icon Week, July 23-27, 2012

Gessoed Icon boards

2 x gessoed icon boards, one to try out colours and one to paint your icon on.

(if you were on the gesso & gild week, you already have these!)

If you have not yet learnt how to prepare boards we recommend

http://www.gessoboards.co.uk

Design & transfer

(if you were on the gesso & gild week, you already have these!)

1 sheet A3 paper

1 sheet A3 tracing paper.

1 x 2b pencils ( not HB)

Craft knife ( do not bring a pencil sharpener)

Putty (kneadable) Eraser ( this is a proper drawing eraser which does not damage the paper)

Springbow compass ( the screw bar holds the points steady)

Set square and ruler.

Notebook and something to write notes with.

For design transfer to gesso: Metal point ( e.g. Cornelissen heavy scriber for etching  or a sewing awl/stiletto)

Conte crayon (this is a hard pastel crayon. Red brown or burnt sienna is best)

Brushes

For egg tempera paint: 2 x sable watercolour brush, Nos: 3 & 5. A good brush which forms a fine point is essential. It will not be possible to teach you the technique with poor brushes (Kolinsky sable series 80A are reasonably priced)

General

Some absorbent rags ( not fluffy)

A palette with deep holes or an ice cube tray.

You will also need an ordinary water glass and two glass jars

Bring a small table easel or similar if you do not like working flat.