The middle ages-Byzantine Icon - part 1

Left to right in 13 steps.

Set the colors to yellow and ochre.
Use the gradient tool to fill the background. Use the mouse to make a diagonal line in the middle of the image.
Make a new layer.
layer>new>layer
Set the gradient line in a different direction. Erase part of the second background with a soft eraser to make a smooth background that doesn't go from light to dark, but one where all the colors mix.

Make a new layer.
1-Fill it with dark grey with the paint bucket tool.
2-Use the rectangular marquee tool to cut most of the dark grey layer, only leave a small border.
3-Make a slightly smaller rectangle with the rect. marquee tool, and fill that one with brown.
4-Cut most of the brown so only a small border is left.
Now you have a small dark grey and a small brown border.

1-2-with a soft eraser on low opacity, erase part of the borders.
select>all
edit>copy merge
edit>paste
Now you have a copy of the three layers together : layer 2
3-filter>noise>add noise

Now we are going to make a halo.
Make a new layer. (layer 3)
Use the elliptical marquee tool to make a circle.
Click on layer 2.
edit>copy
Make layer 2 invisible by clicking on the eye in the layer window.
Click on the new layer.
edit>paste
Now you have a circle (layer 3)
Make a new layer (layer 4)
Use the polygonal lasso tool to make very fine diagonals through the middle of the circle. Fill them with the brush tool in a brown color.
When you have a few, copy/paste layer 4 and rotate.
edit>transform>rotate
That way you don't have to make them all seperately.
Repeat this till your circle is filled with lines.