"Icon Paintings By Palekh Master Elena Vladimir Baranoff" Short Film - Egg Tempera With 24 ct. Gold

Elena Vladimir Baranoff holding her icon Holy Trinity

Over the years I have painted icon paintings in the ancient medium of egg tempera and 24ct. gold and have created a short film “Icon Paintings By Elena Vladimir Baranoff” featuring three icons painted by me which are housed in prominent collections in America.

Our Lady of Vladimir Icon

Our Lady of Vladimir is one of the treasures of ancient painting of Byzantine iconography. The Holy Virgin is depicted in the moment when the baby Jesus is leaning towards her cheek and embracing her by the neck with the left hand. Full of motherly tenderness and sorrow foreseeing his future the Holy Mother of God bends toward the Christ child. The icon awakens the most deep and kind feelings.

Saint John The Baptist Icon

Saint John The Baptist is a traditional icon of the ancient Russian style of icon painting depicting the figure of Saint John centrally positioned and in full length, surrounded by miniature scenes from the life of the Saint, forming a harmonious composition.

Holy Trinity Icon

Holy Trinity is one of the most revered and beloved holy icons in the history of Orthodox Christianity in Russia. The icon is the creation of 15^th century Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev, and is the symbol of spiritual unity, love and peace.

Blue Cockerel and Feathered Friends - A London Summer Sketch

On warm London summer days, when the sun shines through the sprawling trees it is a real treat to stroll down the footpaths of St. James's Park, the emerald gem of the bustling city. What a community of swans, pelicans, ducks, ducklings, pigeons, squirrels, and other feathered and furry creatures inhabit these beautiful woods and waters, living out their celebrity lives under the constant camera flashes and video reportage of tourists. Beloved by all, they are truly star citizens of the capital.    

Bending its exquisite long neck a thoughtful white swan 

floats over quivering waters of the St. James's Park Lake

Later on holding an official audience 

and press call with its adoring public

It can surely be said that our feathered friends are not only entertaining in the park but making an exciting lapis lazuli splash on one of the main squares in the city. An exceptionally blue fiberglass cockerel stands up high above Trafalgar Square.

The Blue Cockerel is indeed the center of attention

I am so surprised to see roosters are everywhere in London. In my previous entry I wrote about a wonderful rooster weather vane I encountered while wondering down a city street this Spring. And now just recently I discovered the most spectacular copper and wrought iron weathercock at The Victoria and Albert Museum in their metalwork collection. According to the museum description, weather vane roosters were very popular in England before the 11th century and fashion for them was exclusively English, only much later becoming used in other parts of Europe.