Iconographers - Ance Grincmane

Ance Gricmane

My name is Ance (1987, Latvian). I grew up in a very nice and small town in Latvia called Talsi. My home is between Baltic Sea and old small airport, used in USSR until 1991.

I learned Icon painting in Latvian Christian academy (2006–2010, obtained Bachelor degree in Arts, under supervision of orthodox priest A.Shabelniks, icon painter G.Mironovs). Since 2011 I am studying painting in Art Academy of Latvia (2013, obtained Master degree in Arts, under prof. A.Naumovs supervision).

For me Icon is a way of life which I have started to learn and hope to continue this journey through life!

Since my base in painting comes from Byzantine art, I chose to make my work of master degree in painting, but in country where Icon appeared first – in Greece. As a ERASMUS student I was studying painting in Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece for a year (October 2012 – May 2013). Since then my icon painting is started to be brighter and more colorful – Greek icon painting tradition is based on clean and bright colors! This is perfect for me as a painter. Each color brings different kind of peace in person who is looking at it, and I love to understand that and keep live colors in my work.

God created World so beautiful and fulfilled with harmony in color, sound and touch. Icon brings holiness in my life, and visually connects these three things together.