Iconography Vyaz by G.A. Marakuev
This article is based on the works of Gregory Andreevich Marakuev, an internationally recognized master of icon inscriptions, calligraphy, and icon painting. He has his workshop that’s based in Moscow where he gives beginner artists and calligraphers lessons.
Calligraphy with a pointed brush
Vyaz letters ofter lie on the intersection of calligraphy and lettering. Some elements here are written with one stroke, as in calligraphy, while others are drawn, as in lettering.
However, the shape of the letters is often closely related to letters written with a broad pen nib. The pointed brush gives the writer enormous freedom. Still, for many beginners, such freedom can be overwhelming and can discourage them from studying writing. That’s why I recommend getting familiar with the broad pen first, and then you should move on to this technique. Recommended tools:
・Roubloff Synthetic Brush №7 round, long handle, 1B12;
・Pentel Color Brush M or S;
・Talens Ecoline Liquid Watercolor, black liquid ink;
Animated Calligraphy
It is advisable to perform the exercises on a lined sheet. You can also download templates for self-practice and an archive with high-quality animated images of letters.
The ducts (stages of writing the letter) presented in this article may differ from the master’s writing technique, which can be observed in the video. There is no single correct sequence of writing letters since they are written and drawn simultaneously. Nevertheless, it is recommended to start with the mast.
These examples are a simplified version, and they differ from Gregory’s letters and are suitable for beginners. They practically do not contain elements of lettering (manual re/drawing of letter’s elements).
In this album, you’ll find videos-examples of Grigory Andreevich writing Vyaz letters. Despite the quality of the video, for practicing calligraphers and icon painters they are more informative.
Recommended literature
Translation:
- “Culture of Icon Writing, Part 1” In 2009, the Holy Trinity Brotherhood “Shchigry” publishing house published the guide “Culture of Icon Writing, Part 1”.
- “Titles and Inscriptions on Icon Images” V. V. Filatov and Y. B. Kamchatnov. “Titles and Inscriptions on Icon Images: A Reference for Icon Painters. Second Edition.” Moscow: PRO-PRESS, 2006.
As stated in the annotation, the guide is a collection of texts inscribed on icons in accordance with the tradition of Russian iconography.
