Painting St Menas Step-by-Step (Part 2: Face and Hair)
In this blog tutorial we will continue painting the icon of St Menas that we started in Part 1 with the garments. Normally I would paint the hands together with the face, but just to keep thinks simple I will be showing them separately so now in Part 2 you will be able to see the process for the hair and face.
Face 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 with which we paint in the facial features and beard and build it up in the darker areas, 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.
We then add some more black for the fine lines on the eyebrows, the upper eyelids, the pupils of the eyes and the nostrils
Hair Proplasmos (Glaze)
For the hair proplasmos we take a little face proplasmos and add white and black until we get a warm grey colour. We take some of that and create a glaze by diluting it with egg emulsion and water. We paint this in a thin layer over the hair and beard.
Hair Proplasmos
Now taking the hair proplasmos that we mixed we start creating the forms of the hair and beard.
1st Photisma
For the 1st Photisma we add some white to the hair proplasmos and build up the forms within those we created with the hair proplasmos.
2nd Photisma
For the 2nd Photisma we take white and build up the forms within the 1st photisma only on the broader/lighter side of the face, giving the face dynamic movement towards the viewer.
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.
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 face.
2nd Psymithia
The 2nd and final psymithia are pure white and are painted within the 1st psymithia only in the very lightest areas on the broad side of the face. We also add the white of the eyes.
Final Details
Now we take some mars red and add some where the tear ducts of the eyes are, along the dark side and tip of the nose and darker areas of the face.
I also take some of the 2nd grapsimo to redefine the outline of the hair and beard.
St Menas. Egg tempera and gold leaf. 15x20cm. 2023
Glory to God!
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