The first workshop will begin on Monday January 12, and will end on Friday January 16, 2026 . The second workshop will begin on January 19, and will end on Friday January 23, 2026. Each day of the course begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 4:30 PM. There is a one-hour lunch break around 12:30, as well as additional breaks for tea or coffee, which often coincide with practical lectures accompanied by slides.
These lectures cover essential foundational concepts and are conducted as an open dialogue with the group, encouraging questions and discussion.
The course follows this format: the instructor invites students to gather around the demonstration panel, where a particular action is shown and explained. Students are then asked to repeat this action on their own. Throughout the entire course, we carefully observe each student’s work and provide individualized feedback — including hands-on assistance when needed.
We will start our study drawing frontal face proportions, construction, and structure with pencil on paper. After performing several exercises we will begin drawing and paint with egg tempera, learning the traditional construction of head, face and garments. During the final 1.5 days of the course, all participants will begin and complete a shoulder-length image of the Mother of God based on the chosen example, consolidating the skills acquired throughout the course.
This course is conducted in a calm and quiet setting, without music or unrelated conversation. This atmosphere supports the slow, deliberate nature of icon painting and helps foster deeper focus and understanding.
To make learning process more effective, we have developed a series of instructional drawings and guidelines to help students better absorb the material and feel more confident both during and after the course.
