Uma tells her story:
I
thoroughly planned both of my last two stays in Prague. That is to
say, I wanted to make use of my time there, in order to take lessons
with an icon painter who has extensive experience in classical
Byzantine painting techniques.
One
never stops learning, and this technique in particular, the secrets
of which I so much wanted to discover, can only be acquired at
specific places, for example a Greek monastery, but I have never been
offered that opportunity.
It
was a wonderful experience to apply this technique in an atmosphere
of tranquility and concentration and to let appear, step by step, an
angel on a carefully prepared piece of wood, looking at me with
peaceful eyes, while its head is aglow in a golden halo.
It
has always been my wish to be able to gold-plate this area
competently and to establish the incarnate parts (areas of skin) with
egg tempera according to traditional instructions, and this is how
that wish was fulfilled.
It
is always exciting to take part in further education and thereby
enrich one’s own skills. And it is a gift to be able to receive
this ancient knowledge that has been well preserved and handed down
to this day and age.
From
my photo documentation, I would like to present some stages of my
work.
I
would like to thank Mrs Eleonora Vlkova for her willingness to share
her knowledge with me. When I asked her, if the angel has a name, I
received this answer:
This
angel is just an angel, so it does not have a name. But if you feel
you have painted a specific angel, then you can give it a name …
