About

Our Mission

We, Philip Davydov and Olga Shalamova, are iconographers, trained art historians, and instructors devoted to the careful study and practice of iconography. Our aim is to offer students a thoughtful and structured path to learning icon painting, combining artistic skill with an understanding of iconography as a living tradition.

Icon painting is more than technique; it is a way of seeing, understanding, and expressing faith. In our teaching, we emphasize learning the artistic language of the icon, rather than simply copying or following a template.

Over time, our teaching method naturally evolves and deepens, because as practicing iconographers and as people immersed in the study of Christian art, we constantly discover new insights and integrate them into our work.

We believe that immersing yourself in iconography with us opens a fresh perspective on art: even if you do not continue practicing, you will begin to see and understand works of art differently — with greater attention to form, composition, and the inner harmony of each piece.

About Us

Olga Shalamova

Iconographer and iconography instructor M.A. from State Fine Art from the Academy of Saint Petersburg, faculty of Theory and History of Art. She is a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and is chief artist of the embroidery workshop at Feodorovsky Cathedral in Saint Petersburg. She is also an active participant in exhibitions of contemporary ecclesiastical art.

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Philip Davydov

Iconographer, iconography instructor and web-site administrator M.A. from State Fine Art from the Academy of Saint Petersburg, faculty of Theory and History of Art. He is a professional, second-generation iconographer with more than 15 years of teaching experience. He is also a professor at the Institute of Theology and Sacred Arts and the head of The Sacred Murals Studio in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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Our Approach

Our approach to teaching icon painting is unique within the modern educational system. It does not follow the traditional methods of Russian icon schools, nor any other icon-painting system known to us.

It is built on the knowledge that Philip inherited from his father, iconographer Andrey Davydov, and the strong foundation provided by the professors at the Academy of Arts where we studied. By combining the wisdom of generations with our own education and experience, our approach has crystallized through the process of creating our own icons. In broad terms, it can be described as systematic.

Iconography Study Group: Students' Works

As part of our long-term program, we present the works of the first graduating Study Group, each creating a bust-length icon of Christ. Rather than selecting individual pieces, we showcase the complete body of student work. Participants came from diverse backgrounds: some already had artistic training, while others learned entirely through the course. All works demonstrate a high standard of craftsmanship and a thoughtful engagement with the iconographic tradition.

Each student developed their own compositional and color solution, expressing Christ according to their spiritual understanding. Throughout the process, they were provided with tools of artistic expression and clear guidance on how to use them.

All icons were created independently online. Our feedback and corrections guided the process, but every work was executed entirely by the students themselves. This approach reflects our teaching philosophy: to equip students with the skills and responsibility for independent work within the iconographic tradition.

Explore the full creative process, from compositional and color sketches, through facial studies, to painting hair, beard, and the final icon.