Love Covers a Multitude of Sins
My fellow iconographer friend, Bill Quick, reminded me today that the process of floating colors is always a friend, as it covers a multitude of sins—meaning in this instance, painting errors. But all joking aside, there is a spiritual truth to be gained in this process. Our teacher, Irene, likes to say that if you can see things on the board that could have been done better, the float shows you mercy by covering the mistake. If, on the other hand, you see something you would like to brag about, the float teaches you humility by covering that too.
This is the part of iconography that never fails to amaze and challenge me. Since I have begun learning this discipline, people often ask me if I have always had artistic ability and the thing is, I don’t consider iconography to be art. It is prayer. It teaches me, sometimes rather brutally, what my relationship with God and others actually looks like. It reminds me that there is mercy when I am need of it, and also can put me in my place when that is called for.
I am looking forward to one more day of work and conversation with St. John the Baptist.
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That’s an interesting metaphor, Fr. Christian, one worth thinking about. I am curious: is the art in the photograph yours? It’s beautiful.
BTW, I notice that you list Blest Atheist in your blog list. Unfortunately, that link no longer works — well, it links, but to some odd site for home furnishings. The explanation for this is on my new site, 100th Lamb (www.emahlou.blogspot.com), which replaces Blest Atheist. It was probably time for a name change, anyway. Bit by bit I am moving the old posts over. I seem to have lost nothing except the comments.
Have a blessed weekend!
It seems iconography is much like general construction. The framers say the sheetrockers will deal with their framing. The sheetrockers say the finishers will cover their mistakes and the finishers say the painters will cover their flaws and the painters say depending on the lighting the issues won’t show. We’re all looking for someone to cover us.
He looks GREAT!
I can almost see bits of locust and honey stuck in his beard!
Hey, great insights, and great lessons. Icons are prayer more than they are art, still, prayer is a beautiful thing.
Elizabeth,
Yes it is my icon. It is going to be a gift for Tory and his family, but I hope to hold on to it for a bit longer to pray with it and once it has had time to dry more, to seal it. (Sorry Tory, but there is still waiting ahead!)
Steve,
Yep, lots of covering up going on….but it is not of the Calvinistic kind. ; )
Eli,
Yes, prayer is a beautiful thing, even when it involves John the Baptist calling you a viper.