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o Media are:
· well-cured wood:
§ in Germany – boards cut from beams of torn-down or destroyed churches, old boards from barns and barrels
§ in US – one to three hundred year old shutters and doors (Mesquite, Oak) coming from Mexico, and oak barrels from the South
· bone glue and substitutes (for boards and linen)
· linen or calico (at times very fine cotton)
· primer or base (imported)
· paints (all imported, some self-mixed, some as produced by specialty companies) based on:
§ casein
§ casein substitutes
· varnishes (several layers) imported
o Saints are painted after so-called “podlinniks” and drawings of Orthodox origin (Russian, Serbian and other Eastern countries), most are painted as closely as possible to described originals, Orthodox requirements are followed
o Icons are often antiqued to give them an old look of family heirlooms
My Influences:
o Born in Glogowek (Oberglogau), Upper Silesia – 1937
o Spent many hours in local churches and chapels admiring Christian art
o Exposed to Russian Orthodox Art in Gliwice (Gleiwitz) by paternal Grandmother (early 1940’s)
o Early attempts at drawing and watercolors with “uncle” Bodo Zimmermann in early 1940’s in Glogowek
o Altar boy in exiled orthodox church in late forties, assisted in cleaning and preserving Russian original icons that were partially damaged during WW II
o Gypsy reading palm calls him “Madonnenmaler” (Painter of Madonna’s) in 1948
o Time spent in Benedictine and Cistercian Monasteries
o Training in drawing, oils, water colors in German high school under Professors Neubauer and Henneberger, a specialist in Dutch Tafelmalerei during late 1940’s and 1950’s – painted first icons
o During 1960’s, drawings and water colors, some oils, few icons, mostly Madonna’s
o Early 1970’s exposure to painting monks, immigrants from Russia, and starts to specializes in restoration “old” paintings, mostly damaged during WW II
o Concentrates on icons, miniatures and large ones, some (especially travel icons) are acquire by visitors from Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc during exhibitions in Germany
o Follows tradition of Russian icon painters – icons are not signed as he accepts that “the pictured Saint guides the hand of the painter”
o Samples of Retablo Art are added
o Icons are in homes, hospitals, churches