How are the icons made?
In our workshop, the icons are made according to a unique author's technology by transferring the image onto a gesso icon board. After processing and drying, the wooden icon board is pasted over with a substrate (lining), on which gesso is applied in layers.
What is Levkas? Levkas is an icon-painting primer made according to ancient recipes from natural ingredients, such as chalk, bone and skin glues, various vegetable oils, honey, etc. The composition can be found on the Internet, but every master keeps the proportions a secret.
Why not simply prime the icon board, as artists do when they paint on canvas? It's about the tree. Wood is a living material, it changes, a wooden icon can bend. Thanks to this unique composition, gesso, the icon retains its plasticity. And there is also the luminosity and volume of the image. Many layers of chalk composition reflect light well.
Each layer of gesso is aged, processed by hand until a mirror surface is achieved. The image is then applied to this surface.
Levkas has the property of transmitting light through itself. The light reflected from the surface of the layers creates an optical effect of luminosity and three-dimensionality of the image, which brings the icon as close as possible to the original.
Ours masters for the first time managed to achieve this effect by printing.
The mineral paints used have a high lightfastness. That is, the icon can be placed under the sun's rays and it will remain just as bright.
Why not paper or canvas?
Paper and canvas are short-lived, tend to deform and tear. It is impossible to display the layering and brightness of colors on paper and canvas. According to the law of optics, the light goes out in the uneven texture of the canvas.
- All icons are consecrated on the relics of St. Theophan the Recluse
- The icon was made according to the iconographic canons - on a real wooden board (pine 2 cm thick)
- Printing in prepared and hand-sanded gesso is applied with mineral (natural) paints
- The icons are waxed by hand to protect them from moisture.
- Our workshop Icon has been operating since 1997
- Our masters are members of the Union of Artists
Let customers speak for us
Thank you for the wonderful icon! God bless you!
The icon of Saint Marina beating the Imp- it came well ahead of schedule but most of all it was made with very great care, respect, and reverence! It is absolutely gorgeous and came with a small wooden icon of Jesus Christ Pantokrator as well as a summary of Saint Marina's life! If there was a rating above 5 stars it would DEFINITELY get it!!! God bless you all!
I got a beautiful guardian angel today! I wish prosperity to your workshop!
A gift for a godson. Everything is packed very well. They gave me a small icon of Archangel Michael as a gift. Thank you, Lord, for meeting a Miracle.
beautiful icon for a child's room
I ordered 3 different icons, I really liked them, wooden base, nice to hold in hand. Special thanks for the gift, I looked at this icon on the website, it's beautiful, and was pleasantly surprised when I received a small one as a gift! I will recommend you!
This is the image of Saint Nicholas that I wanted. A very interesting work from the Middle Ages. It is made on a board with a pine scent. Time will tell the quality of the image. Thank you.
I want to thank the online store for the wonderful icon that I bought as a gift. To be honest, I was a little worried, because it is not just an ordinary thing. The icon itself is unusual, I have not seen such an image in other stores. Thank you for the quality product, promptness in work. And in the parcel I found another small icon, as a gift. I was pleasantly surprised.
Excellent store, everything is on time and correct, I recommend it to everyone, I ordered an icon, two came - they gave St. George the Victorious as a gift. With gratitude, and good luck to your work and the store! Thank you!
Good day, I received the icon, it is magnificent, God bless you, thank you for the gift.
Thank you for the fast order fulfillment, for the good assortment. The icon of St. Catherine is simply amazing, and for the precious gift - a deep bow! I will order from you again and recommend your address. Thank you!
Beautiful icon, smells of wood! All letters are clearly visible! I want to assemble the iconostasis gradually! Very good quality!
Thank you for the icon and for your gift! The icons give off a very pleasant smell. Goodness and prosperity! God bless you!
Wonderful icon, high quality. Packed well and soundly. I recommend buying! Thank you very much.
I ordered an icon of 13 cm. Good size. I was afraid that it would be small and the image quality would be weak - no, everything is perfect. The images are clear. The icon is very beautiful. They packed it very well too. They put a small icon as a gift. There is a hook on the back.I bought it for a gift. Everyone is happy, both I and those who received the gift.
