Just when I think I am getting there with this icon, I am shown that I must change something, and I have to be open to that change even thought I'm so stubborn and I don't want to make more work for myself, there is a prompting and I have to alter it. 

Here I have added green to the foliage, taken it right down to the halos, strengthened the faces and hands, deepened the blue of the gown. 

modelling on the himation (red robe)

 starts to give it movement

outlining foliage - this will look different once the 

yellow-green and white highlights go on.

re cut the halo 

and re painted the background, make the hands smaller.

after painting on shellac over the cadmium red

then the Japan size is painted on, wait two hours

and then gild with 24 carat gold.

the lettering and halo lettering next.

bush - bramble- βατος

repainting the red background and halos

for the gold to be applied.

the repainting for the underpainting looks very transparent and unsubstantial, 

but egg tempera is slow crafting 

and the layers have to go on 

one by one, 

there is no short cut 

or rushing. 

after the onion gravy accident 

I had to sand the icon right back to the wood.

A holiday can be a good time to catch inspiration unawares.

The fire of the 'Burning Bush' icon took on new meaning once I realised 

what a lot of effort it is tending and keeping a fire burning.

 these brambles and bushes were food for thought on the 

foliage element of the icon. Spiky, angular, not too leafy.

a gargoyle from Kirkbymoorside parish church Norman(?)

simplified face in 'ideal' proportions.

Reflection

away time is excellent for that. 

Had a bit of a drastic rethink of the icon, 

there was a small accident with a pan of onion gravy

which meant a total repaint.

Same design but a rethink about 

the size of the figure in relation to the mountain

some of the colours needed altering slightly.

A good chance to reflect and re-write.

A week away in Kirkbymoorside, away from everything 

was just the break I needed to make some brave changes in the icon.