Painting St Menas Step-by-Step (Part 3: Hands)
In this blog tutorial we will continue painting the icon of St Menas that we started in Part 1 with the garments and Part 2. with the face and hair. Normally I would paint the hands together with the face, but just to keep thinks simple I will be showing them separately and now in Part 3 you will be able to see the process for the hands.
Proplasmos
We cover the face, hair and hands in the same proplasmos make from yellow ochre, mars red and black.
1st Grapsimo
We make the first grapsimo with mars red and a little black to create a brown colour and build it up in the darkest areas defining the fingers and blending into the proplasmos.
2nd Grapsimo
For the 2nd grapsimo we add some black to the 1st and again define the darkest areas and blend into the 1st grapsimo.
3rd Grapsimo
For the 3rd grapsimo we add some black to the 2nd and again define the very darkest areas, this time without blending into the 2nd.
1st Flesh
The 1st Flesh is made with yellow ochre and white. You can also add a touch of mars red.
Cool Glaze
We paint a diluted glaze made of yellow ochre, white and a touch of black on the lightest parts. (this can also be done before painting the 1st flesh) It forms a cool transition with the 1st flesh.
2nd Flesh
The 2nd flesh is made with the 1st flesh and white. It is built up within the 1st flesh slowly building up the volume of the forms.
Warm Glaze
The warm glaze is made with diluted mars red and yellow ochre and painted on the darker side of the hands creating a transition between the 1st flesh and the proplasmos. It is the contrast between the warm and cool glazes that brings the flesh tones to life.
3rd Flesh
The 3rd flesh is made with the addition of white to the 2nd and is built up with in the 2nd. This is where I start giving definition to the phalanges of the fingers
1st Psymithia
The first psymithia are made with 3rd proplasmos and white and are painted in the lightest areas within the 3rd proplasmos on the lightest parts of the hands.
2nd Psymithia
The 2nd and final psymithia are pure white and are painted within the 1st psymithia only in the very lightest areas.
Glory to God!
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