Byzantine Journey: Icon Painting & Gilding

Open to all adults – previous experience not required.

This 10-week course is an opportunity to delve deep into traditional icon painting and undertake a journey through its many varied and fascinating medieval processes.

Participants will be able to create their own version of a beautiful late Byzantine icon of the ‘Virgin and Child’ to approximately A4 size, on a professional-quality linden-wood board, using genuine gold leaf and painting in egg tempera. Specialist equipment, detailed instructions and individual guidance will be provided from start to finish. An important part of the course will be an art historical component, which will consider many aspects of the icon, from its iconography, function and meaning, as well as contemporary contexts.

• Drawing and planning a design
• Preparing and applying ground
• Gilding- Mixing pigments
• Tempera painting techniques

Material list

All material (cost around £60) and tools provided. Please note basic brushes will be available to borrow, however students will benefit from obtaining their own sable water-colour brushes (sizes to be advised).

Tutor
Helen Dejean