6/27/2023 0 Comments Becoming an iconographer![]() I try discard less important elements to focus on the essence.Īt first I do some research about a topic I have selected if I need it and make a few sketches but sometimes when I have a vision of the whole picture I limit myself with just linear sketch to dedicate more time for painting the icon itself. I search for visual language in ancient Byzantine sacred art, delve into various creative practices both contemporary and ancient, and sometimes even look for inspiration in naive and folk art. partial imitation, imitation in some details). The choice of artistic landmark may be limited to issues of stylization (e. The main professional task of a modern iconographer in creating new icons is to choose a prototype for future work. The process of painting an icon is quite laborious. But writing or painting are interchangeable as far as I’m concerned. In Ukrainian we say “to write” when it comes to any kind or genre of painting (landscape, portrait, oil painting, watercolor etc). Can you describe the process of painting or writing an icon? My passion to create art and my faith coexist in symbiosis. Through painting icons, my understanding of the metaphorical meanings and complex symbolism of Christianity has grown so much. ![]() It requires learning and reflecting all the time and it shapes my faith. Icons help to improve my understanding of the Christian faith. Of course,iconography is a form of prayer and in my case it’s more than just prayer because it leads me to the truth about Christ step-by-step and enriches me spirituality. It’s a a kind of dialogue between the artist and Christian ideas, between humans and God. In terms of the relationship between painting icons and my spirituality, creating them begins with reflecting on biblical stories. After I began, the desire anc capacity to conceptualize God and the central ideas of Christianity grew. But I actually got my start in iconography like an uneducated person. But the main purpose of iconography is the same: conveying the faith to as many people as possible.Īt first I thought that I must be perfectly attuned to the Holy Scripture and know all the truths of Christianity to be qualified to paint icons. Now, it serves as a supplement to the doctrine because most people are now educated. The original task of the icon was to inform uneducated people about the doctrine of the Christian faith. ![]() Is this your experience? How has this creative worked shaped you spiritually? I have even heard some artists describe their painting as a kind of prayer. ![]() Creating an icon requires the painter to be technically skilled, but it is also a very spiritual endeavor. This interview was done via email and has been edited for length and clarity. The interview helps us see this the iconography through the eyes of a contemporary artist. Kvyk is a core part of the new movement called the Lviv School that is pushing the boundaries of iconography. It is the community of professors and classmates at this school that has most shaped her style as an artist and iconographer. In the Department of Sacral Art, Kvyk earned a Masters degree in 2020 at the the Lviv National Academy of Arts (LNAA). At this monastery, she was exposed to the spiritual and technical methods of iconography the seeds were planted.Īfter graduating from college some years later with a focus on graphic design, she followed that same priest’s footsteps and enrolled in his alma mater. At a local monastery in a small village in the mountains, this priest and his artist friends offered iconography courses with the hope of reviving the ancient Western-Ukrainian icon. Nevertheless, her passion for iconography was first kindled around the age of 16 when she attended classes on iconography at the invitation of a priest with a fine arts background. In fact, she resisted the possibility for many years. Though she now understands her calling from God to be an iconographer. Greek-Catholic Church, a church that maintains the Byzantine liturgical tradition as well as Eastern iconography.įrom a very young age Kvyk desired to be an artist. Khrystyna Kvyk (1994 – ) is a Ukrainian iconographer.
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