Is this perhaps the oldest Christian icon we know of?

I'm working on, and have nearly finished (for now) a moderately large round icon, ca. 22 inches in diameter, that depicts the Baptism of Jesus.  The original is a huge mosaic in the dome of the Arian Baptistry in Ravenna, Italy which dates to ca. 430 A.D.  And yes, Jesus is NOT wearing anything at all.  Didn't bother them.  Doesn't bother me.  Your mileage may vary.  Since I shot this photo I've worked on the details some more.  I needed to clean things up a bit so that I could hang this icon in the ICON SHOW at BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN, 4100 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls - all during Advent 2011.  When working from a mosaic original I find that I have to fight the urge to "go pontillist" (if that's the right spelling of a word that means refer to the school of French 19th Century painters?) and paint itty bitty dots of paint so I would end up with something that looks like a photograph of a mosaic.  I might try that sometime, but not right now.

This is the preliminary design for an icon of "Haakon the Good" who as a Viking king of Norway caught between the powerful pagan interests of some of his nobles, and the increasing popularity of the Christians.  The great dragon on his right represents the culture around him.  The Christ figure is taken from an ancient stone cross.  He's in the middle.

He was a Christian.  When he was elected King over Norway he asked his nobles if they would convert.  They refused to change.  He refused to abandon Christ.  They worked out a deal - the first recorded instance I'm aware of whereby "freedom of religion" was extended to all parties involved.  The net result ... many years of peaceful co-existence.  As his death approached he was asked if he wanted a Christian funeral or a pagan one.  He chose a pagan one, saying that he did not feel worthy of being buried as a Christian.  His modesty prevailed, even to the end.  His was a wise and fair reign.  Long may he be remembered - as a Christian!

The original icon was presented as a "naming icon" to my grandson, Haakon Erik Olav Homstad on his 10th birthday.  Long may he live!

Icon work & hay fever (weird combination)

I always got a kick out of irascible John the Baptist, a.k.a. John the Forerunner.  What a preacher he must have been to hear, that nearly the whole population of ancient Jerusalem hiked through the Judean desert going east to the Jordan just to hear him!  The prototypes of him that I like the best show him as a deeply sunburned hippie, carrying a scroll with a single word on it ... REPENT.  If you haven't listened to Leonard Cohen's "The Future", look it up on iTunes.  REPENT is the repeated phrase in that one.  In its vulgarity, its naked truth telling, its preaching to power ... it is the incarnation of John the Forerunner.   Strong stuff.   Sort of like hay fever that forces me to see everything through blurry eyes, hacking coughs, and sneezes - no matter what I had in mind originally!

There is an equally strong stuff sculpture of J.B. that is in the Baptistery at St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, MN.  Tall, gaunt, rugged and oozing power ... I can imagine him on stage singing Cohen's lyrics.  I can imagine this icon doing the same thing.  Not a comfortable being to have around.  But then, remember Leonard's poem and song, "There Ain't No Cure For Love" - look it up.  You'll find them both in his "Live From London" album.

A photograph of the original of this icon just blew me away when I first saw it many years ago.  Later on I learned that the original is highly likely the oldest icon in existence since it has lived in the monastery of St. Catherine in the Sinai since it was placed there by the Emperor Justinian in ca. 550AD.  It was done in encaustic (hot wax) technique.  Its colors are as bright today as when it was finished and dedicated.  My copy is done in acrylics and 23K gold leaf.  It measures ca. 11" wide by 20" tall on a 3/4" thick panel of plywood.  Completed in September 2010.

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ, or The Nativity.   This is one of two traditional views in the Incarnation icon - one view (my favorite for theological reasons) is where Mary is facing and holding the infant Jesus; the other view is where Mary is turned away from Jesus who is sleeping in the manger.  I like all of the figures in the icon, the shepherds, the angels, the midwives, the visitors from the East bearing gifts, and Joseph and the "strange character" talking with him.  COME AND SEE THE ICONS at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN during Advent 2011.  The exhibit will open with an official announcement - expected to be just before the first Sunday in Advent, 27 November 2011.

First draft of icon catalog is done!

O.K., the first draft of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church icon catalog is done - this is the descriptive listing of the 24 icons I've written that will be displayed in their gallery during Advent 2011.  It's off to the editor for the usual stuff like proof reading, clarification of stuff, etc.

Icon preparations - Advent 2011 show at Bethlehem Lutheran, Mpls

I'm currently preparing the catalog of about 24 of my icons for a gallery show at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN.  The show will open during the week starting on 7 November 2011 and remain up until January 2012.

Each of the icons will have a description and scripture link associated with it - so that's what I'm working on today.  Once those are prepared, then I'll prepare a description to accompany the icon "writing" process - from the text in the Bible, or the life of a saint, to the drawing, to the preparation of the board and painting surface, applying of genuine 23K gold leaf, colors, final varnish, and dedication.

Stay tuned.  This will take awhile!