finally teaching a class

I have taken the initial steps to teach my first "how to" class to actually write (paint) and icon.  I have two students who have made a commitment to the class. The problem with teaching a how to paint an icon class is, it takes HOURS to write even the simplist icon from start to finish.  I compare this to walking into a music lesson and expecting to be able to play a song at the end of the lesson. You may learn how to play notes, you may even be able to play scales at the end of the first lesson, but you won't be abe to play a song and do it any justice.

The art of iconography is a discipline. I found that if I'm not able to focus on my painting, it isn't a good day to try. You end up making mistakes and being frustrated.  I know for me, I have to skip caffeine if I'm going to paint or my hand shakes on the fine work.  This is part of the commitment. In order to come away with a finished icon you need to make a commitment to time, approximately 24 hours total.  This is best spread out over several weeks. 

I have two students and I have the boards. In order to keep costs down, we went with masonite boards. If my students feel they would like to redo their icon on a wood panel, we can do that later.  Plus, It will be much lighter to take masonite panels to classes and displays (which I do in the SCA).

We decided on an angel from a Kievan fresco. I have my initial sketch done but I'm having a bit of trouble getting the wings the way I want them (artist prfectionist tendencies?). We are tentatively planning on meeting after August so I have that as a deadline to get the "cartoon" (the outline only drawing of the icon which will be transferred to the board) finished. The boards are also rougher than I would like so I want to and my own layers of gesso.

Mudthaw March 26, 2011

I went to Mudthaw yesterday with friends and had a very nice time. I submitted an entry to the baking competition, Torun Style Gingerbread.  Torun is a city in Poland and is famous, to this day, for their gingerbread. The gingerbread from Torun is so good as to be a viable competitor to Nuremberg Gingerbread, the German par excellence gingerbread.  The two cities had a heated rivalry for many years until they final agreed it was okay to make each other's baked goods.

One suggestion for enjoying this gingerbread (more a spiced honey cake/cookie) is to serve it with a glass of vodka.

I was pleasantly surprised when someone came to me to say my presence was requested in court as I won the competition! I saw some amazing submissions so this is an honor. 

Why I Started This Blog

I finally started a blog after much poking and prodding by friends. In this blog I will share my interests in the SCA, medieval Poland, costuming, fiber arts, scribal arts, etc. and anything else I feel appropriate.


The outfit in my avatar is based on drawings by a 19th century artist, Jan Matejko. Jan is regarded as THE Polish historical artist in Poland. At the time Jan was painting, Poland was going through a time of crisis and upheaval. Jan was involved for a time in a underground movement.

At this time you will not find Poland on a map. It was partition in three stages in 1794-95 between Russia, Prussia and Austria and officially ceased to exist. Except in the hearts of her people!


Jan also collected historical dress of Poland. Jan also did effigy sketches of clothing from the crypts Polish churches. He used these and other research to develop beautiful color plates of dress worn in Poland. www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/Matejko/1200Country.jpg will take you to a plate with the example upon which I based my dress.

Resources/references on Middle Ages Poland are hard to come by. One book I have not seen is now on the "lost" list at the Library of Congress. In my opinion, Matejko is the best source there is right nowfor anyone trying to study this period in Poland. NOTE - I have found two of his figures in other books. One a carving on a Romanesque church and the other painted on a glass tankard celebrating the Hat Maker's Guild, and I can't see glaring differences.