Change is happening all around us, from tradition to technology. Our dis-ease found in cultures around the world is also a virus of the mind—the Native Americans call it “wetiko”. The word describes our fear and separation as a unique form of mind-blindness that renders us blind to our blindness. To seek the light takes courage. To stand in the light can be exhausting. If we do not seek the light we become anesthetized by darkness. We have a global opportunity to learn, study, witness, watch, and contemplate who we are as a human race.
Ask yourself what part are you playing? Sacred art and prayer with icons keep me connected to a lifestyle that celebrates mystery. Theology is the study of how humanity is becoming more God conscious every day. My innovative Books on Iconography are a special journey about writing in stone, dirt from Mother Earth.
Mary Jane Miller has painted with ground stone and egg yolk in her studio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, for 30 years. Prayer and iconography come together through her books on Iconography Practice. She designed two new workbooks and study guides for curious iconographers.
How to Paint Icons
Icon Painting Technique was my first book. Now I have designed a sequel resource guide and workbook for focusing your particular process with egg tempera done in the Byzantine style. How to Paint Icons expands your understanding of iconography with egg tempera. The manual highlights the smaller aspects of icon writing with tips and shared discoveries gained through my experience. These workbooks arrange superb examples and illustrations to help you progress step -by-step while recording your practice. Working together in a group to will stimulate discussions and feedback.
Embossing Metal
Mary Jane Miller has geared this second book towards those of you in the iconography community interested in creating new silver/pewter halos. Embossing Metal introducing the first section to discuss tools, supplies, step-by-step technique, and how to style borders and halos to embellish your icons. Tools and metal foil sheets are all you need to construct beautiful designs. Each tool has its own character and purpose. Forty-two pages of instruction give you a place to begin and inspire you to go further than you imagined.
The process is simple and only requires investing hours of focused study. After ten hours of practice, your fingers will sense and feel the amount of pressure required to make fluid configurations. The book concludes with a fine selection of icon templates, Icon patterns, writing icons, egg tempera painting and skillful examples of our spiritual experience of writing an icon.
Both available on Lulu or Amazon
Books on Iconography Practice are helpful references for any iconographers library. One book focuses on Embossing Metal and the other one is a more in depth study of egg tempera. All the examples, commentary, exercises, and helpful hints help you navigate through your iconography practice. There is an expansive world in body, mind and spirit that can be gleaned through Miller’s Books on Iconography Practice. For Mary Jane Miller, sacred art and prayer with icons have kept her connected to a lifestyle that celebrates mystery. Egg tempera and metal embossing techniques are meant for anyone with an interest in the ancient art of icon writing, as practiced ages ago and including our present day. The hope is for you to refine the teachings and expand them into your daily life and discipline.
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