Growing an Icon, Part 4

by abbamoses

In this image, face, hair and hands have been filled in, lettering and edging have been added, and the icon is more or less done.

The face and hands often make all the difference in an icon — in sketching one out, I first try to place those correctly. For various practical reasons, they usually end up being painted last.

Saint Seraphim is often shown holding a lestovka (“ladder”), an old Russian version of the prayer rope made out of leather.

As is usually the case, my main response to this icon is that I want to do it over from the beginning, trying to benefit from what I’ve learned working with this one.

Holy Father Seraphim, pray for us.

Previous “Growing an Icon” post