Resistance
Steven Pressfield begins his book The War of Art by describing what he defines as Resistance. It struck me today that at least a third of his list of activities that most commonly encounter this force are ones that could describe what I am doing this week. Below I have quoted the three that seem to apply to this week of iconography as I could certainly feel the resistance today.
The following is a list, in no particular order, of those activities that most commonly elicit Resistance:
1) The pursuit of any calling in writing, painting, music, film, dance, or any creative art, however marginal or uncoventional.
4) Any program of spiritual advancement.
10) Any act that entails commitment of the heart.
Much of the resistance I am feeling comes from the fact that I am attempting to move forward in my skills by learning how to mix my own paint. In previous workshops I have always relied upon my teacher to mix the paints so that I could work on other aspects of icon writing. This is a whole new world of trying to mix the proper colors together in the right amounts between each step. It has slowed my normal pace considerably. The thing that most struck me today was my struggle to stay focused on the task at hand. That, my friends, is resistance at its best.
My prediction is that I will continue to experience resistance in my quest to learn iconography as I can see years of things to learn and to improve upon, and those are just the things I can see from the eyes of a novice. I pray that as we continue this week that the icon of John the Baptist will continue to come into sharper focus, as will my knowledge of paint and color.
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I’m very grateful; my teacher gave me a “starter kit” of paints that are already mixed and a “recipe sheet”. She explained some of it, but it is something I can use as a paint card to try to match the colors when I begin to buy my own paints and use them.
I DID have to try a new mix as I started on OLPH, though; I see that on the original icon, it appears the background is painted. She had told me which colors to use, but I wasn’t sure so I began to experiment, but luckily (or by grace?) found the proper golden hue. I also see that Jesus is wearing the same color with real gold over it.
This should be fun, although it’s a bit daunting to have only done one icon, with major supervision, and to be working on this one WITHOUT someone to check my work as I go! There will be much, much praying involved!
Oh, and just out of curiosity, what paint are you using?
I am learning in egg tempera, which requires several layers of paint. It begins with a dark, chaotic layer, and gets sharper as one adds layers. I love this method as it employs all natural materials and the finished product is much deeper in color and texture than many other methods. Tough work though!
Ah.
I’m using matte acrylics but recently had a discussion with a co-worker (before I began this endeavor) on the agony and ecstasy of various types of paints in iconography. She made me a little afraid of temperas!
Of course I didn’t have a choice in how I began, but I am happy with these acrylics so far, but look forward to trying other things in the future! (one step at a time from this kindergärtner….)
Don’t be afraid of tempera! It IS alot of work, but the results are always stunning.
I think acrylics are a lot of work! LOL!
I’m working on Our Lady of Perpetual Help right now (not that I’m worthy, but, let’s just say I think Our Lady herself “commissioned” me else I wouldn’t have the LARGE board, the colors, the trace that was already available before I left my retreat…etc.). I realized today I had painted over the area where the falling sandal should be, thankfully not too late to fix it, wondering if I should use the “wash” brush for the large areas on Our Lady’s cloak and on Jesus’s garb, wondering which colors to use.
Perhaps you can help. On the image of OLPH, Jesus APPEARS to be wearing green, as do the angels, and there is green on the inside of Our Lady’s cloak. My teacher insists that the color CANNOT be green, for in iconography, Jesus NEVER wears green. I have looked through my colors, and am thinking of using teal as it would look green in comparison to the dark blue of the cloak, but isn’t’ actually green. I do place teal in the blue category!
As a research note, a publication by the Redemptorists cites the color Jesus is wearing as….green.
While my teacher did an image of OLPH (the same trace I am using), she used white for his shirt and avoided the whole “green problem”.
What say you? Any ideas? She suggested Kazan Blue, which is the shade we used for the head covering, and in lighter coats that might work, but once it fills in properly it’s too close to the shade of her cloak.
I’m really leaning towards teal or maybe mixing teal and Kazan blue.
*sigh*
I should be supervised! I don’t think I’m ready for this icon, but I can’t NOT write it…..
I’m sure there’s a serious spiritual lesson here that I’ll figure out in about 5-10 years or so…
The first one really resonated with me as I struggle with finding time for my new hobby (stand-up comedy.)
I love following you on your journey this week.