The Studio Experience

The Icon Retreat is built around an intensive, 10-day full immersion program in the creation and study of icons. It is a unique experience, combining art instruction within the Orthodox tradition of icon painting. While each retreat takes on its own personality, many elements remain the same from one retreat to the next.

Generally, quiet is observed in the studio when workshops are not in session. However, while working on their pieces, participants may listen to music on personal communications devices, like iPods or MP3 players, provided that they use head phones and do not disturb others. If everyone in the class is in agreement, appropriate background music may be played in the studio.

Each participant will be seated at a work station with one or more lights and a selected number of dry pigments and 23-karat patent gold. Other than these items, most participants will bring their own supplies. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section for a list of required drawing supplies and paint brushes.

During the workshop, participants will sand a prepared panel, or icon board, on which they will paint their image. These panels were created by the previous class. As iconography is a ministry of service Retreat participants will learn the preparation of a true gesso panel during the retreat and the panel will, in turn, remain at the Icon Retreat for use by the next class. The instructor will select an image for students to paint. In certain circumstances, with instructor approval, students may choose another image.

Participants will learn geometric analysis of the icon, which aids in the creation of a drawing which is balanced, harmonious, and dynamic. Drawings will be refined. The instructor circulates among participants, assisting each one with suggestions for corrections to the drawing to ensure proper size and figural placement. The objective is to develop a placement drawing characterized by a minimum number of strong lines and appropriately placing that image onto the prepared panel. Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the instructor and the assistant instructor.

The instructor will demonstrate each step that participants are to execute in the process of painting an icon. Having viewed the demonstration, participants will follow the instructor's direction for the next step in creating his or her final image. The instructor will circulate among work stations and offer advice or correct technique either by further verbal guidance as the student works on the panel or by demonstrating the technique on the student's panel. Participants quickly learn that egg tempera is a very forgiving medium, allowing for easy removal, correction or redrawing, regardless of the stage. With instructor approval, more advanced students may work on a more complex icon. In this case, the student will provide his or her own gessoed panel.