Icon Painting Workshop

TAMPA BAY AREA, FLORDIA

 
 

Dates and TimeS:

February 13-17, 2023
Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm

Location:

Saint Andrew Orthodox Church
4633 Glissade Dr, Port Richey, FL 34652

About This Workshop:

Learn to paint a traditional Byzantine icon from start to finish under the instruction of Brian Matthew Whirledge, M.Ed., a teacher/iconographer who has painted hundreds of icons for homes and churches across the country for over a decade. This hands-on workshop is for everyone: beginners without artistic experience will create a successful icon while advanced painters will be challenged. Students receive step-by-step instruction, demonstration, and all materials to paint this icon. This workshop is a spiritual retreat, as you will spend hours in prayer, face-to-face with Christ and the saints.

Brian will help you make egg tempera paint from scratch, develop an underpainting, gild with 23k gold leaf, and artfully develop color, form, and light with egg tempera paint. We'll discuss the history and theology of icons, and tour the church to see icons in context.

Traditional egg tempera is my preferred medium as well as the preference of iconographers for centuries. We’ll use eggs from my parents’ free-range chickens, and natural mineral pigments made by God Himself. Egg tempera uniquely transfigures creation into sacred images, combining the vegetable (wood panel), animal (eggs), and mineral (pigments) kingdoms.

Tuition:

$435/new students or $385/returning students, which includes all materials to complete an icon. Non-refundable deposit of $100 required to register; the balance is due at the first class. Please inquire about scholarships based on financial need and/or student status.

Registration:

Please register early. The class size is limited to 12 students. Register online with a $100 non-refundable deposit in my online store. You can also mail a check (please contact me for my mailing address).

 
 

Saint Thekla

About the icon:

Saint Thekla is the first woman martyr and Equal to the Apostles. We will paint her icon as a full-standing figure. Here is an account of her life.

You will paint your icon on an 6x12” panel. Brian will guide you through drawing, gilding with 23.5k gold leaf, and every step of painting. The workshop has a prayerful, retreat-like atmosphere.

Materials & Supplies:

All materials and supplies are included with tuition:

  • Gessoed panel, prepared with traditional gesso made from chalk and rabbit skin glue.

  • A set of pigments

  • A set of brushes

  • 23.5K gold leaf and size

  • A palette and palette knife

  • Eggs

  • Spray bottle, water cup, paper towels, brush soap, tape, pencil, etc.

  • Handouts and printed materials

It is not necessary to bring anything, but you are welcome to bring your own brushes, a table easel, or any other supplies you want.