The first Icon: Saints Raphael, Nicolaos and Irene

 

The first digital icon i am working on is the icon of Saint Raphael, Nicolaos and Irene.I thought that an attempt to digitally create an icon would be very interesting to explore but at the same time a very exacting work.

Byzantine art and specifically icon painting is established following a standard that is not accepting deviations. The icons are not exhibited like other works of art. Their main purpose is litourgical and to bring the beleiver closer to God.

The Byzantine Art was never actually static although today is following a more symbolic approach. Periodicly there were revivals of a classical aesthetic but the anti-naturalistic character is mainly favoured in our times.

Personally i love the simplicity of the anti-naturalistic style but i am moved with some naturalistic icons of past ages.

I was prompt by the idea to create digital icons in a digital illustrative way. I find many similarities in illustration, vector art and Byzantine Iconography.

The first digital icon needs care on selecting colors that calm the eye and soul. The Saints are dressed with clothes that are vectors and this is the style that i want to follow for the other icons too. Clothes are materials and they are destroyed while the faces are more important. A face and particularly the eyes are the mirror of the soul that is immortal. So the face of my Saints will be more naturalistic instead of the rest parts of the icons that will have more of a symbolic meaning. The backround of an icon is usually gold. In my icons the backround will be yellow like the sunshine. With yellow i see light and hope.