Online Drawing Course

Half Figure. Hand Gestures

August 20 – October 8, 2026
Next Offering: 2028

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What Is This Course About

Drawing hands is one of the most challenging tasks for an iconographer. This unique course is dedicated to studying the depiction of hands and the various types of gestures found in the icons of Christ Pantocrator.

We will carefully explore the meaning of each specific hand gesture and study in detail how it should be drawn so that the gesture appears both expressive and canonically accurate. Throughout the course, we will examine nearly all the main types of hand positions, enabling you to confidently apply the acquired knowledge when drawing gestures in other icons as well.

Details

FOR WHOM

Anyone, interested in learning how to draw different hand gestures used in iconography. It is equally good for individuals with little to no iconography or drawing experience and for professional iconographers, willing to learn drawing hand gestures properly.

PRICE

$280 USD (or €240 EUR) for 6 assignments with personal feedback. Payments are non-refundable. Students are accepted on a first come - first served basis.

DURATION

7 weeks / 6 assignments:
August 20 – October 8, 2026.
Drawings are accepted for corrections no later than October 07, 2026

RESOURCES PROVIDED

Each of the 6 assignments includes:
1 pre-recorded HD video tutorial
1 PDF file with lecture summary, historical information and homework,
1 folder with drawings,
1 folder (or folders) with medieval models.
All video tutorials remain available after the end of the Course.

LEARNING SUPPORT

Learners are expected to share photographs of their drawings in Google Classroom Stream. Personal corrections / comments / recommendations from the instructors are given within 48 hours (weekends excluded). Feedback is guaranteed for the whole period of the course either written in words or/and drawn directly on the uploaded photograph.

NECESSARY SUPPLIES

  • Paper: A4 or Letter format
  • Pencils: 2H and 2B (or 4B)
  • Eraser
  • Compass with two needles (caliper)
  • Ruler
  • Thick paper for templates
    (1-2 A4/Letter size sheets)

    • WILL I HAVE ENOUGH TIME

    We made this program as extensive as possible. Complex tasks are split into manageable parts, making the assignments squeezable between routine work and family duties. We hope it will allow everybody to study at their own pace. Please put about 40-50 minutes for watching the video tutorials & at least 2 hours for drawing practice per assignment.

    Practical Matters

    This course starts on August 20, 2026. It consists of 6 assignments. Each of them explains, demonstrates and suggests drawing a certain hand position or blessing gesture. After the last assignment is published on September 24, you will have two more weeks to submit your homework for checking. Drawings are accepted for comments and corrections no later than on October 7, 2026.

    Access to the Google Classroom and all course videos is for online course participants only and must not be shared with anyone else in any form.

    Online Iconography Drawing Course

    Assignments

    ASSIGNMENT 1. Ancient Meaning of Gestures and the Main Hand Structure
    ASSIGNMENT 2. How to Draw a Two-Fingered Blessing
    ASSIGNMENT 3. How to Draw an Abbreviated Jesus Christ Blessing
    ASSIGNMENT 4. How to Draw a Back of the Hand Gesture
    ASSIGNMENT 5. Christ’s Hand under the Gospel
    ASSIGNMENT 6. Christ’s Hand Holding a Scroll

    Learning Process

    Each of the 6 weekly assignments includes:

  • a tutorial video
  • a PDF file with homework, historical information, lecture summary
  • a folder with drawings
  • a folder (or folders) with medieval models

    • Start each assignment by watching a video, taking notes and making sketches. They will help you to memorize all the new information. In order to master new skills and make them become your hands on experience you need a lot of drawing practice.

    The homework for each assignment is given at the end of the last video and also in description of each assignment. In the folders for each assignment, you will find all the drawings and medieval models. We expect you to do your homework on paper of A4/Letter format and post it in the Google Classroom Stream.

    If you are not satisfied with your drawings and have not finished them, share your drawings at least once a week. Constructive feedback will help you to move on. If you are stuck and don’t understand how to proceed, post your drawing(s) with question(s) in the Stream. We are always ready to give a hand.

    The advantage of using the Stream is that you see other students' homework and teachers' feedback as well. You can spot a lot of interesting comments and suggestions that help in your work.

    We kindly ask you, take a photo of your drawings without distortion. When taking a photo, hold your cell phone or tablet parallel to the drawing. It will help a lot with your homework correction.

    We hope that at least for these one or two hours of drawing you will switch off or put your cell phone on “silent mode”. We also recommend asking people around not to disturb you and provide some peace for concentrated work. We insist on this because the learning process is more intense and effective if performed with a complete immersion in the process, thoughtfully and carefully.

    If you experience any technical difficulties with Google Classroom, please let us know via email. We will answer you as quickly as we can.



    Coming in 2028

    Dates to be announced

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