www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Scripture and Patristic Writings Acts 17:29

Dear Rose2 Iconographer:

"Iconographer!!!"

and just when I need to confer with another artist!!

I have a question for you. I have not painted for so long - and I was never of the ability to do faces (that shows my level) but luck - this project is not a face - just hands.

I was admiring a statue of Mary in my local RC - it is very old and large - you know the type. About4 ft high plaster formed on wire frame. The bodies are always a bit too wide for the proportion - but so too was my grandmother.

The face and clothing had been re-painted a few years back and a wonderful job was done. Very soft tones.

However - her hands were not done (?) and have some damage. The paint is peeleda lot and it looks like someone did some plaster repair and then painted over the repair but it is a sad job of matching. So while the entire statue looks magnificent - her hands!!

And so I told the priest "If you do not have an artist to do the hands for you - I will do them." He said - yes - go ahead.

My plan is to use very fine sandpaper to smooth the hands. I believe they are just plaster so I have to do it very light on the touch. So no problem with that step.

I will wait till spring so that a temperature drop in the church will not even have a chance of congealing the paint. I would not even trust a drop to 65 degrees inside. Removing a botched job is not something we want to even give room for.

But now the paint... the paint on the hands is old. I suppose the re-painting was done in acrylics and it appears that the base coat for the face was perhaps sprayed on for such and even tone with no brush marks. The flesh tones of the face move just a bit toward - sandalwood - a very soft pastel look - very nice indeed. You would expect her face to move - it is so lovely.

I will probably use oil base cut with linseed oil for the hands. To be sure of adhesion - I MAY use a binder like Kilz.

I expect the original hands to be oil - but do not want to take any chances so I will probably Kilz them first.

Then I will get a flesh color - a white - a brown - and a red - and staring with the flesh tome start to play with the mix (probably using a spot on her heel for testing - which I can wipe off before it dries).

I do know that what mix I use - it will dry darker by a shade or two - but the hands are not near the face and so the eye will not notice if it is a shade darker.

I expect that I must first do a base coat and then let that dry and cure for several days, and then go back and see the results. Change the mix if it calls for that and apply a second coat. Then let that also dry entirely - and then go back to do a final coat - thinned down for smooth flow. No brush marks. Perhaps 000 steel wool between coats.

Do you have any suggestions? (confession before starting is a given if things allow).

-ray

Dear RayK,

That's very good of you to offer to repair the statue in your RC Church.

We all cooperate in God's little miracles without even knowing it .

Since you asked, these are my suggestions.

First, sanding down all the peeling paint would be your first step. You'll probably have to do some plaster repair work before you can start painting. There is a product called "Vatican Casting Stone" that might be useful in painting on a really thin layer - or just make a slurry of plaster and carefully add on successive layers till it looks right. One thing that will help you is probably not to work more than 20 minutes at a time. Our poor minds tend to dull after that period of time when focusing on one thing. That time break will give you a new refreshing look when you return to your work and you'll be able to accomplish more with fewer errors.

If the face is done in acrylics, it might be a good idea to use the same medium on the Virgin's hands. I'd use an acrylic primer first, of course. And, a matte sealer or maybe a satin gloss at the end. Be careful and don't use a high gloss (unless that's what the whole statue is covered in) as it will make the hands stand out too much.

You might want to make some plaster chips to practice the color on. This way you can hold them up to the face color to get a good match.
I'd begin with a yellow ochre (about 80%), red (10%), and a touch of black. You can also add in some green to brown it up a little. Depending on the face colors, you probably will need about 5 to 7 shades. Use your main color and then darken it two shades with a smigen of black and lighten the main color with white and yellow ochre two shades. There is such a thing as acrylic glazing medium that can help you create more depth and tonal changes. Try and follow the painting method as done on the face so that it matches as closely as possible - i.e. if there is a lot of detail or very little detail, that will direct your project.

Usually a person's hands are a slightly darker color than the face. Keep that in mind when matching your colors to the face. Besides, it's the face that should draw your attention and making the hands more of a focus (or "brighter" color) will distract from the statue.

Lastly, pray first - ask our Heavenly Mother to help you. Meditate on her life and how she used her hands - to tenderly hold our Savior; to wipe His tears when He fell; to prepare His food; to dress Him; to hold His hand going to the market; to teach Him to walk and eat and play; to put Him to sleep at night; etc. She will lead you in the best way to proceed with your project - just ask.

I'll keep your project in my prayers.

Well obviously she has already decided to help me - through you!

I will print out your directions - and before I start I will post a few close-up pictures on the web - for you to examine.

It will be a few months (we are frigid here right now) as the church is only minimal heated when empty and heated for people with winter coats when open.

But I know where to find you

Like a doctor - in conference - I would like you to view the hands before I start.

:p Doctor of Iconography - that is you

You do your part to repair the church with each icon you create

May Providence allow this to happen for us. It is very symbolic to me. I should tell you about the appearance of my own plaster statue of Mary - how the face and hands soured many years ago just before was come to light about so many pedophile priests. How such a large portion of his priests failed him (even a few is too large a portion). Her face began to pale in streaks - and her hands also. Pale streaks and reddish spots. Yes - it was probably moisture from the air seeping into the layers of paint - - but whenever I looked at her in passing it - a still small voices within seemed to plead "Repair me Ray� Providence has been forgotten. I am your mother the church. My face needs repair. My hands - need repair. Will you repair me?"

Oh! I wish - I could!

An ant - a blade of grass soon to wither. Just one more man - passing by. Eventually just a photo to be remembered fondly by his children.

So you see - special love will be given to this plaster and paint - for this practical task which I can do.

-ray

Yes, Rose2, as Mary Jo says, that is a really good reference. The history of how the icon has changed is most enlighting, especially the artist's highlighted intentions.

Amazing. Thanks.

wild goose

I design web site... how about I help you put your icons on the net. No charge.

http://www.connecticut-web-designer.com/

While I am in a slump - it is a good time to grab me. (now).. when I do corporate sites I am tied up for about a month.

-ray

Thank you RayK .... I'll contact you with a private message.