Icon Painting with the Prosopon School of Iconology

Master Iconographer Deacon Nikita Andrejev invites you to join a seven day intensive retreat at Hawkwood to paint your own icon of the “Angel of The Golden Hair,” inspired by a prototype of the 12th century. Over the 7 days you will be introduced to the liquid egg tempera technique developed by the Prosopon School of Iconology. Each day will begin with prayers and a lecture relating to the meaning and symbolism of icons. A demonstration and explanation of the techniques necessary for each stage of painting will follow. This will enable you to work on your own icon board day by day, culminating in a complete icon at the end of the week.

The so-called “Angel of the Golden Hair” original comes from Novgorod, Russia, but shares in an artistic language common throughout lands under Byzantine influence at the time (Constantinople, Kiev, Cyprus, Sicily, Georgia…). Not having any surviving inscription, the mysterious Angel is traditionally associated with the Archangel Gabriel, but the pattern can be used to depict any Archangel from tradition.

The icons will be painted on authentic wooden boards carefully prepared by a master icon board maker. You will learn gilding using the bole method and painting using the egg tempera “floating” method with natural earth and mineral pigments, some of which are historical and precious. The intimate class size will allow for individual attention.

The course is suitable for complete beginners. No art background or affiliation with any religious organisation is expected. However, students who have painted icons with the Prosopon School before will have the added opportunity to improve and develop important skills on the enlarged holy face. A bonus of the course will be to learn assiste-style golden lines on the Angel’s hair using suslo (evaporated beer adhesive) or shell gold (suslo will be provided, but please procure your own shell gold ahead of time if you prefer this method).

The Prosopon School of Iconology was founded by iconographer Vladislav Andrejev in the United States in the late 1980s, after he had emigrated there from Russia. The school has been developing its style and teaching methods for over 3 decades and continues to offer courses in North America, Europe and beyond, in person and occasionally online. Over this time a particular style of icon painting has emerged, marrying the centuries-old Christian traditions with a distinctive approach to colour, light and transparency of paint application. Prosopon courses aim to develop the individual’s knowledge of self through the icon in addition to presenting a theological perspective. Courses are therefore not primarily designed to lead to a professional qualification, although technical excellence is indeed encouraged.