Για νά ’ρθουν - To call up the shades 

(oil on wood board 100x70cm 1999)

 Inspired by the poem: 

Για νά ’ρθουν —

Ένα κερί αρκεί.     Το φως του το αμυδρό  

αρμόζει πιο καλά,     θα ’ναι πιο συμπαθές  

σαν έρθουν της Αγάπης,     σαν έρθουν οι Σκιές.

 

Ένα κερί αρκεί.     Η κάμαρη απόψι  

να μη έχει φως πολύ.    Μέσα στην ρέμβην όλως  

και την υποβολή,     και με το λίγο φως —  

μέσα στην ρέμβην έτσι     θα οραματισθώ  

για νά ’ρθουν της Αγάπης,     για νά ’ρθουν οι Σκιές.

Κ. Καβάφης [1920]                   To Call Up the Shades— One candle is enough. Its gentle light will be more suitable, will be more gracious when the Shades arrive, the Shades of Love. One candle is enough. Tonight the room should not have too much light. In deep reverie, all receptiveness, and with the gentle light— in this deep reverie I will form visions to call up the Shades, the Shades of Love. C. Cavafy [1920] Translated by Edmund Keeley/Philip Sherrard

 

 Naples National Archaeological Museum

Athens National Archaeological Museum

 London British Museum

More photos are posted on: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eraklidon/sets/

Particular by the work 

Amo ergo sum/Αγαπώ άρα υπάρχω/I love therefore I am

(egg tempera on wood board + gold leaf 92x145cm 2005)

Because Eros gives identity...

Shall I tell you Something?

(oil and tempera on wood board 92x145cm 2006)

 Self Portrait

(oil on cardboard 20x20cm 2007)

Study - Almost a Portrait

(egg tempera on canvas 13x18cm 2014)

As I say in the titles, the first painting is more properly my self portrait instead of the other one that is a study I made starting from my face. 

What I was interested to reach in "Almos a Portrait" is a quite realistic painting where lines are easily recognizable but still consistent with the whole picture. Even more important for me is the fact that using egg-based tempera I tried to keep me as close as possible to the ancient Greek painting technique.

For more information about my techniques please visit my related blog at: http://paintingasalchemy.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Here are some of my other works inspired by some other jewels of the British

Protesilaos

(Egg tempera and pastel on woodboard 20x30cm)

Hermes

(Egg tempera and pastel on cardboard 20x32cm)

 Athena

 (pastel and egg tempera on wood 2014)

The proportions of this painting are based on the ancient Parthenon's foot which is about 29.57 cm

 The Attica's Light

(pastel on canvasboard 50x30.8cm)

Between yesterday and today I have been to the British Museum to draw live the Parthenon Marbles. I called this work "ΤΟ ΦΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΑΤΤΙΚΗΣ" that means "The Attica's light". 

For someone that has lived in Athens, surrounded by its so unique light, it is quite strange to see these marbles immersed in the atmosphere of London. On this statues I can easily recognize that typical grain with its warm colored veins that were so familiar to me in the light of Attica!

By the way, I have to say that the color of my new primer for this canvas helped me so much because it successfully reached a warm color tone quite similar to the Pentelic Marble ;-)

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/poll/2014/feb/12/george-clooney-elgin-marbles-monument-men-poll

Welcome - Καλώς ήρθατε - Benvenuti

Escape from the Dark Age

(oil on cardboard 30x75cm 2007)