The faces in front of future students, the hands – guardians of the craft, the people – inspirers. A column that introduces you to the future teachers at the craft school, part of the Colorful Factory.
*Please find the English text below.
She is an iconographer, restorer and furniture recycling specialist. She graduated in icon painting and wood carving at the University of Veliko Tarnovo. She speaks about icon painting with dedication, inspiration and respect. She knows the specifics of this art and talks about its subtleties with the energy of a person who has loved what she does. She is ready to continue learning, but she is also ready to pass on what she has learned so far.
Natalia Bilcheva will lead icon painting courses in the future craft School "Sharena Fabrika"As part of the series of interviews we are preparing to tell you about the people behind the "Sharena Zadruga" initiative, we now introduce you to it.
How did you get into icon painting?
My family has a relationship with Orthodoxy. Bulgarian traditions and church holidays are observed. I did not choose my specialty simply to study something. My choice was conscious and purposeful! Of course, I also had a foundation laid with the education I received at the Secondary Art School of Applied Arts in my hometown of Tryavna, where I graduated with a degree in furniture design. So, this subject was not foreign to me. My interest was sparked by how, with the help of all artistic techniques, church art is unique in its essence. Painting and artistic woodworking, stoneworking, literature, science (dogmatics, history, archeology) and music become part of and even create the visual and material idea of this such a beautiful and true part of our life – faith in God! A series of feelings, emotions, materials, spirituality and that supreme feeling that you are part of something big!
How is this art developing in our country today?
Church arts develop, like any art and any science! It is a combination of many components. One developing gives direction to the others.
Modern life gives people who are engaged in church arts a chance to exchange experience, to travel, to study live iconographic examples and to communicate with colleagues, to find their place in the profession. Yes, today this is a profession. The opening of these specialties in secular educational institutions gives more people the opportunity to recognize themselves in this art and as a profession.
What don't we know about icons, about their creation?
As trivial as it may sound, I believe that a person learns throughout life. Art is a constant search. When you are engaged in art or, as is the case, a combination of several, this is 100 percent true! There are exact formulas only in mathematics and physics, although they are also part of art. In our work as iconographers, many, many tests are made. Each author, based on his initial technical training, makes the best recipes and ratios for bases, paints, etc. for himself. As for the theoretical part, there is a lot of in-depth reading and study of the matter, which is necessary to bring us closer to the reality that we have to recreate. Such as, for example, an event from the first century AD that we have to depict in the 21st century. Against the backdrop of the disbelief of modern man, it is a challenge to present events that actually happened without distorting them and without altering them and thus misleading the people who will “read” our images.
What did icon painting give you?
It gave me and continues to give me a different perspective on life and the passage through it! It gave me diverse and rich knowledge, uniting different sciences. It gave me the opposite perspective on life! It built in me the faith that makes me feel good, that gives me direction to seek meaning and hope that we can be better!
Where did you study icon painting and wood carving?
I received my higher education at the St. Cyril and Methodius University of Applied Arts, with a Master's degree and a Bachelor's degree - Church Easel Arts - Icon Painting and Woodcarving.
The University of Veliko Tarnovo is the first "home" of this complex and unique specialty in higher education in Bulgaria. It is no coincidence that it is developing in a city that has preserved the spirit and history of the Bulgarians! It would not be an exaggeration to say that I have gained knowledge from the doyens of this specialty. People who have built the methodology, criteria and requirements in contemporary Bulgarian church art.
In addition to the specialties with a practical focus such as icon painting, wood carving, mural painting, painting, decoration, art history, etc., our training also included theological disciplines such as introduction to theology, study and interpretation of the Old and New Testaments, dogmatic theology, hagiology, etc. I was fortunate to have as my teachers Prof. Nikolay Ruschukliev - painting, Father Prof. Nikolay Shivarov - Biblical history and biblical archaeology, Prof. Simeon Zahariev - wood carving and plastic arts, Prof. Dr. Miglena Prashkova icon painting, a descendant of the founder of the specialty Prof. Lyuben Prashkov, Prof. Ivan Kanchev - mural painting and mosaic, etc.
What knowledge and skills does a furniture restoration expert need?
For a furniture restorer, the most important thing he needs to know is how to make the same piece of furniture from scratch. From the choice of material and processing to the cutting and assembly. He needs to know the work of developing the individual elements, the sequence of the process and the different options for finishing the product. Having this knowledge, a furniture restorer has all the necessary skills to restore a piece of furniture. This is the technical part.
What are the specifics of the restoration workflow?
There is another very important and valuable element for the person who deals with restoration and that is to show attitude, to have his/her own searches, to follow the historical processes in the development of furniture, to devote enough time to his/her own experiments and to have a sufficient dose of imagination! Imagination! It often happens that old and not so well preserved furniture lacks decorative elements. Using the technological knowledge from the above lines, the furniture maker/restorer must also apply his/her plastic and artistic skills. He/she must become familiar with the spirit and era from which the given piece of furniture, the object of restoration, is from. It is a challenge on the one hand, when the client does not give you freedom, but has certain expectations for the form, functionality and color palette and on the other, when you have the freedom to do whatever you consider necessary, as you feel the form and detail.
What are the emotions that fill you with in your work?
Satisfaction! When you take in your hands something that you created and put a part of yourself into, it is personal satisfaction.
Motivation! This is not giving up, despite the accompanying problems, because there are many of them.
Sharing! Knowing that you are part of someone's celebration, someone's happiness, knowing that you are entering someone's home, regardless of whether you are painting an icon or repairing, restoring or recycling furniture.
Responsibility! To make people remember you well. When you know that what you made with your own hands will last in time.
Development! Having the opportunity to build on your knowledge and work to develop professionally.
How did you feel when you were offered to join the Colorful Factory project?
Learning about the "Sharena Zadruga" initiative, I felt a sense of hope and inspiration activate within me. The moment was like a review after more than 10 years of attempts at development, some more successful, some not so much. How in Bulgaria can you live as a craftsman and artist and is it worth it?
Hope that more good things are still to come for arts and crafts in Bulgaria
Inspiration not only for my own personal development and growth, but as a chance to be useful. Of course, without having the self-confidence that I am great or irreplaceable, but to be able to share what I have learned through my prism, my world. To have the opportunity to pass on my knowledge to people with similar aspirations and beliefs to my own, or diametrically different, but ready to learn something different about art and for a little bit about the world. And this is the next step in development.
