The painting of these lines is a decisive step that will determine the beauty of the icon. As a precaution, beginners can engrave these features before painting. Too many contemporary icons show important deficiencies in the drawing and are written in haste. The face is the centre of the icon and it is decisive to practice many times on photocopies, for example, before working on the board. The lines must be precise while being supple and special attention must be paid when lining the eyes.

The composition of the colour: burnt Siena with a point of red and black. This mixture must have a good proportion of egg emulsion, to resist the application of the subsequent puddles. Use a brush with a good tip.