Highland Icon Workshops

The Summer Schools provide an ongoing cycle of studies, introducing the use of religious images in church and home, basic skills of practical iconography and providing the opportunity for more advanced icon students to develop their skills. The teaching material is linked to the Online Icon course on the e-studies site.

Icons in Church and Home: General Introduction

This is an introduction to the theology of icons in the Church, through slide shows and discussions. We start with an overview of the history of religious images in the Church and the reasons for and against images. We see how icons became an important way of presenting the teaching of the Church to the faithful, and how to pray with icons and the Gospels. We look at the schema of images in churches and how to make a home icon corner.

WHO IS IT FOR? - Anyone interested in icons and church art generally. It covers essential background for iconographers learning the principles of writing an icon, for priests and liturgists using icons in churches and laity praying with icons.

Designing the Icon: Scripture and ‘spiritual flow’

We study how the design of icons conveys ‘theology in line and colour’ through slide lectures and practical sessions. Starting with the ‘shape of the light’ we learn to make a spiritual flow diagram, build light in a tonal drawing, and learn the calligraphic brush line which gives rise to the term ‘writing the icon.’ We complete the week with ‘Mount Tabor and the Lightning flash’ - the finishing strokes which give transfiguring illumination to the icon. One Week, Monday-Friday.

WHO IS IT FOR? - Anyone interested in learning to paint icons, or icon students who need to improve their skills. Advanced students can come for help with their own designs.

Preparing the Icon: gesso and gold leaf techniques

This is a strictly technical workshop, useful to anyone who paints in egg tempera, using gessoed boards and gold leaf. We cover the application of glue, and cloth layers, making gesso, tips on brushstrokes and how to avoid bubbles and pitting. We cover basic water gilding, oil gilding and application of assiste ( fine gold lines over colour). If you are staying on for part three, you can prepare and gild your icon board for the next week. One Week, Monday-Friday.

WHO IS IT FOR? - Anyone who needs to learn how to gesso a board and apply gold leaf in water gild or/and oil gild. These techniques are also useful for tempera painters and gilders in general. Advanced students can come for supervision in complex gilds.

Writing the Icon: painting icons in egg tempera on board

This is a painting workshop. Each day begins with a demonstration of the techniques to be used and the rest of the day is spent painting. Boards and designs are pre-prepared for new students (returning students can bring their own). We apply the design to the board, and build up the colour layers to complete the icon. Tonal exercises are included. Emphasis is placed on the technique as a path of prayer and spiritual development. One Week, Monday-Friday.

WHO IS IT FOR? - Beginners and advanced. Students start with the face of Christ in the first year, and progress to more complex icons on return visits. Advanced students may come for painting supervision.