Iconography

Make your home more beatiful with icons – Icon painting course for beginners

Iconography is a centuries old skill which, in spite of its strict rules, has always attracted and inspired numerous artists and amateurs alike. In the BAH icon painting workshop the attendees will have an opportunity to get to know the basic techniques for icon painting and their use, as well as to constantly advance their knowledge. In order to master the icon painting techniques each lesson lasts three hours.

Through the icon painting for beginners course and quality time spent in our workshops while socializing in a positive surrounding, the beginners will acquire theoretical and practical knowledge, get to know the entire process of painting icons on different surfaces and get the opportunity  to showcase their works of art in the Beo Art House workshop gallery.

Why should you choose the Beo Art House icon painting course?

If you’re interested in iconography for beginners because you’re creative and want to express your spirituality through art here are a few reasons why you should choose the Beo Art House icon painting course:

•         You can nurture your spirituality by painting icons, which are of fundamental importance for Christian art and spirituality
•         Icon painting is relaxing
•         The knowledge of icon painting techniques can become a source of extra earnings if you want that
•         You will rediscover your creativity, and you will have a deeper understanding of Christian rituals and value them more
•         Art has many forms, and icon painting can be mastered with enough will power and patience
•         The kind Beo Art house educators will help you through every step of the creation process
•         The basic materials and equipment are included in the course price

Who is this course intended for?

This icon painting course is intended for all of you who have an affinity for artistic expression and a will to advance spiritually and creatively through icon painting, no matter if you have some or don’t have previous experience in the fine arts.

What will you learn?

There are two segments in this course – a practical and a theoretical one. In the theoretical segment you will learn more about Christian iconography, preparing the painting surface, *****, *****, gliding, the actual painting of icons and the final varnishing and protection of the finished icon painting.

In the practical segment we will work with pigments and egg tempera, gliding, drawing and icon painting. When you have practiced enough on some easier surfaces, you will start painting on wooden surfaces which will remain in your possession or be on displayed in the Beo Art House gallery.

The tradition of icon painting

Icon painting is a special painting technique which is very important within the Orthodox Christian church. Its origins are all the way back in early Christianity, but it has evolved through time and reached its peak in the Middle Ages in the Byzantine Empire. There are two types of iconography: icon painting on wooden surfaces, and fresco painting –on walls.

The tradition of icon painting is mostly spread throughout the Orthodox Christian Church, even though they can be seen in other religions, they have been developed and are the most detailed in Orthodox Christianity. That means that all of the icon painting rules are connected to The Orthodox Christian Church.

In the Orthodox Christian church the rules of icon painting are set and are respected by every icon painter. The rules don’t have an official **** and they are continued through generations, from the master to the student. The main unwritten rule is that the icons are painted based on the older ones.

Material and equipment we use

In the mid-century the pigments used for icon painting were natural, mostly of mineral origins. The pigment was made into dust by hand. Today we mostly use synthetic pigments which are pre-manufactured, and it is also possible to use natural pigments like ground ocher.

The basic materials used in the Beo Art House icon painting course will be provided and they are:

•         Brushes
•         Binders
•         Pigments
•         Golden layer substitutes

Egg tempera is also used for icon painting – painting colors where the binders are yolks of chicken eggs. Painting with egg tempera is a traditional practice. Almost all of the icons painted in the middle-ages were painted with egg tempera. It is very lasting which is fundamental for maintaining the quality of icons which have been painted more than a thousand years ago.

Sign up for the icon painting course and make a first step towards mastering the skills of icon painting. Express your spirituality and make your loved ones happy.

The Beo Art House is expecting you.