THIS PAGE IS FOR YOUR ICONS!
Correspondence comes in from many Byzantine iconographers, often with images and commentary – too good to file away!
Please send me one to three, maybe even four, images of your icons here, and I’ll post them on this page. It's nice to have name of icon, dimensions, medium, year painted, and name of photographer if other than yourself. A small photo of you would also be welcome.
Please tell me your name and where you live. If you wish, send a brief biographical note or Artist’s Statement (up to 150 words) and/or brief commentary on your icons, which I might edit slightly.
If you have your own website or blog, or if you have icons on another website, tell me and I’ll add a link.
On request, I’ll add a “contact” line, but I won’t post your e-mail address.
ANN WELCH www.annwelch.co.uk lives in Britain and the Greek islands, where she teaches iconography. She frequently visits relatives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She will coordinate a summer 2013 workshop in the Greek Islands.
Ann is experienced in many art forms including batik, and her work has been included in numerous exhibitions. She created and organized the fall 2009 UK exhibition Divine Dimensions.
The Mandylion or The Holy Face
Mother of God Panagia (All-Holy)
MICHELLE JENNES of Cocoa, Florida was inspired by seeing the Shroud of Turin to paint this powerful and moving Epitaphios Icon depicting Jesus, newly dead and resting on the shroud.
The icon was displayed at the Ohio Shroud Conference, which attracted participants from all over the world. (Scroll down to bottom of Shroud Conference page.) This icon brought Michelle an award for iconography and photography.
Michelle has studied iconography with the Prosopon School.
Contact Michelle Jennes here.
ANZHELIKA (ANGELA) FULTZ of Lima, Ohio was born in Russia.
Although Anzhelika is the mother of three young children, she is a very productive iconographer. She studied with
Mother Janet Peters in Michigan.
The Holy Trinity
Anzhelika painted the Tree of Saints for a friend - all of the many saints in this complex icon correspond to names in her friend's family
Angela's icon of Christ Pantocrator
CECILIA AGUALLO is a student of the Prosopon School and has served as coordinator of Prosopon workshops. She makes her own boards and applies gesso to them.
Contact Cecilia Aguallo here.
Cecilia has executed several commissions for churches, including the pair of large-scale icons above, depicting Archangels Michael and Gabriel.
Cecilia's icon of Archangel Michael.
JUDITH KAESTNER of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin is a long-time Prosopon student. She teaches and coordinates a local group of iconographers. You can see more of Judith's work at her Icon Photo Album jpkaestnr.tripod.com.
Of the icon of King David, below left, she writes, "This is the icon I wrote for my brother David. He especially wanted the harp/lyre as he is very interested in music and is an acoustical engineer."
Below center, Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne. At right, Judith's icon of Saint Cuthbertis based on a wall painting in Durham Cathedral.
MARCIA ALLISON www.ourfaithfulj.blogspot.com is a student of Judith Kaestner, working in egg tempera. At right, she holds her 11 x 14 inch icon of The Guardian Angel.
Below left, Marcia's first icon, Archangel Michael, 11 x 14 inches. Below center, a small 7 x 9 inch icon painted for her daughter, and inspired by the love of a mother for her child, Mary Mother of Tenderness.
ZACHARY ROESEMANN writes traditional icons from his studio in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Zachary was called to iconography several years ago after a career as a professional singer. After studying in New York with Father John Walsted www.walstedicons.com, Zachary opened his own studio, Sacred Icons. He works in egg tempera and gold, using traditional models and methods whenever possible. His website is www.SacredIcons.net.
Noli Me Tangere, after a 15th-century original, illustrates the moving scene between Christ and Mary Magdalen in John 20 - 18 x 24 inches, egg tempera and gold on board
Christ Pantocrator is based on the famous 6th-century icon of Christ at Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai - 13 x 17 inches, egg tempera and gold on board
Christ in Majesty, modeled on Russian originals from the 14th century, is a monumental icon commis-sioned for the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul in Burlington, Vermont - 36 x 52 inches, egg tempera and gold on board
BEJINARI N. FLORIN lives and works in northern Bucovina, Romania. In addition to panel icons, Bejinari paints icons on Easter eggs, a longtime regional tradition. One of these beautifully detailed eggs is shown at right.
You can view more of these eggs at www.icoane.bizoo.ro - click on "Produse (5).
Contact Bejinari Florin here.
DR. MATTHIA LANGONE of Vancouver, British Columbia is a conference speaker and spiritual director as well as iconographer.
We have studied together at several workshops of the Prosopon School. Her website is www.iconsmatthialangone.com.
Our Lady of the Sign
The Mandylion or Holy Face
BROTHER LLEWELLYN KOUBA is a Benedictine monk at Assumption Abbey, Richardton, North Dakota. Pottery is his primary art form; but this lifelong artist is also accomplished in painting, dyeing, and rug hooking. More recently, he turned his talents to iconography, and is now undertaking work on a large triptych icon. See more of his work at www.assumptionabbey.com/Pottery.
Left to right; Our Lady of Vladimir in oil on gold leaf; Our Lady of Tenderness; and Archangel Michael
LUCIA DUGLISS of San Francisco, CA began her iconography studies in 2000 with workshops of the Prosopon School and with DominICON, under the leadership of Fr. Brendan McAnerny, OP.
She is also fascinated with knitting, especially the work of painter and knitting designer Kaffee Fassett.
Lucia has painted many icons, including church commissions. She works in both acrylic and egg tempera. You can see more at her flickr site and at www.cafepress.com/luciazicons.
Contact Lucia Dugliss here.
Saint Joseph with Doves, egg tempera and gold leaf
Left to right; The Holy Trinity; The Mandylion or The Holy Face; and Our Lady of the Sign; all in acrylic
Our Lady of Kazan, egg tempera on gessoed board, approximately 7 x 7 inches
The Virgin Mary, back-painted on glass
SCOTT SONGFEATHER of Crestone, Colorado started writing icons in 2007, teaching himself with the help of books. He has learned how to make boards and apply traditional gesso, as well as how to make and apply egg tempera paint. Scott is a regular correspondent and has given me much useful information on websites and suppliers.
Scott has recently been exploring the Romanian-style folk art of back-painting icons on glass; he says it's much quicker than painting on gessoed board. The lines and highlights are painted first.
See Scott's WetCanvas art thread here. Click on Inspirational Art, then on Icons & Iconography. Scott's ("Celadonite") gesso instructions are included.
Scott would like to learn more about icon inscriptions in Greek. Contact Scott Songfeather here.
Man of Suffering, egg tempera on gessoed board, approximately 5 x 7 inches
JOUMANA DANIEL writes from Lebanon: "I started this art by pencil at age 13, then on cloth, then oil icons, until 1994 I got introduced to the traditional Technique of Egg Tempera through a friend who was my only teacher, because in Lebanon we miss so much academies for the art of the Icon. I worked many icons for churches and homes inside Lebanon and outside (Texas-Germany- Vienna)." Although her job and her two young children keep her very busy, she dreams of traveling to learn even more of iconography "to enrich my soul and my spirit." Contact Joumana Daniel here.
Saint Jacob
Detail of Holy Trinity
Mother of God
PETRO LUFTA lives and paints in Albania, where he is working to revive the tradition of Albanian iconography, which (along with all other religious practice) was suppressed under Communism. His website www.iconogpetro.org includes a history of Albanian iconography.
Petro studied for several years in Greece, learning to paint in several iconographic traditions. He now provides icons and wall paintings, including many of ambitious scale and complexity, for Orthodox churches and cathedrals. He also accepts commissions for icons.
Petro is active on Facebook under the name Petro Iconographer. His extensive Facebook photo files include historic Albanian icons as well as his own work. Contact Petro Lufta here.
Theotokos & Child
Saint Andrew
Detail of Holy Trinity
Empress Saint Helena, shown holding the True Cross which she is believed to have discovered
LESLIE SMYTH of Ukiah, CA is a longtime iconographer and an old friend.
A former San Francisco resident, she worked with me as co-coordinator of several Prosopon workshops. She practices quilting, collage, polymer clay, and several other art forms besides iconography. Contact Leslie Smyth here.
Saint Peter
Saints John the Evangelist and Prochoros
Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist
Our Lady of Tikhvin
Christ the Teacher
Our Lady of Vladimir
DRAGIZA BOZOVIC of Belgrade is a self-taught iconographer, working in a sophisticated dry brush technique learned from books. A native of Sarajevo and an architect, Dragiza survived the horrors of the Bosnian war but had to relocate with his family to Belgrade. He would enjoy corresponding with other iconographers, and is also active on Facebook. Contact Dragiza Bozovic here.
Small icon of Saint John the Forerunner
A tiny metal box contains a tiny icon
SUZANNE COOPER of Los Angeles, CA has been my fellow student at several Prosopon workshops. She and her husband are professional photographers who have published several books. She brings her camera everywhere, and is always watchful for the most beautiful light, the perfect moment for a photo.
Archangel Michael
Our Lady of the Sign
The Mandylion or Holy Face
REGAN O'CALLAGHAN www.reganocallaghan.com - Originally from New Zealand, this artist/iconographer and organizer of community art now practices in London. Much of his work, although reverent, incorporates surprising contemporary imagery. All work shown is egg tempera and gold leaf on gessoed panel.
Saint Paul and the Huia was painted for Saint Paul's Cathedral in London; 65 x 80 cm, 2008.
Saint George and the Dragon. As with many of his other icons, you will find commentary on the blog on Regan's website.
Saint Savior, a commission for Saint Savior's Church, 48 x 66 cm, 2010.
The Almighty and the Blackbird, 36 x 87 cm, 2011.
MARY JANE MILLER of San Miguel Allende, Mexico - contemporary icons, many with a sensitivity to world religions - www.sanmiguelicons.com and www.moderncatholiciconography.com; and The Dialogue Project at peacebestill.net
Our Lady of Vladimir
Christ the Teacher
Our Lady of Kazan
Mary Jane creates icons with oklads, traditional embossed silver covers! Her silversmith spouse, Valentin Gomez, makes these beautifully detailed coverings, exactly fitted to Mary Jane's icons.
JACK PACHUTA of Philadelphia, PA describes himself as "a retired businessman who always liked to make things." He has studied with Vladislav Andreyev and has painted some 70 icons. He uses powdered pigments and acrylic medium to make his own paint. Contact Jack Pachuta here.
The Smiling Face of Jesus
The Crucifixion
Archangel Gabriel
JANETA TODOROVA of Sofia, Bulgaria is a self-taught iconographer of impressive accomplishment; she has been painting icons for 7 years.
Her icons are available at www.etsy.com/shop/zhanet; prints at fineartamerica.com/profiles/janeta-todorova.html.
Saint George
Saint John the Baptist
The Holy Trinity
MORE ICONOGRAPHERS AND ICONOGRAPHY WEBSITES
SISTER VERONICA COMER of Quidenham, UK - www.quidenhamcarmel.org.uk/icons.php
GUILLEM RAMOS-POQUI of London, UK - www.ramos-poqui.com - large church icons, with theory and step-by-step documentation of their creation
JUDITH JOSEPH of Chicago, Illinois - www.judithjosephstudio.com - contemporary Jewish iconography and calligraphy
BYZANTINE ART www.byzantineart.net - a group of excellent iconographers in Melbourne, Australia.
Head of Christ,
gold leaf and egg tempera on panel
STEPHANE RENE www.firstimageicons.com - Coptic style icons; workshops in the UK.
PANTELEIMON KOURTIDIS www.byzantinemural.com - Greek style icons.
NICHOLAS MARKELL of St. Paul, MN www.Markellstudios.com - Religious art including stained glass, icons, and graphics.
IAN KNOWLES of Cheltenham, UK - www.eliasicons.co.uk - icons and restoration of religious art and statues; teaches iconography workshops at Bethlehem in the Holy Land.
AIDAN HART www.aidanharticons.com is a distinguished British teacher and iconographer. His recently published book is Techniques of Icon and Wall Painting.
TATIANA McWETHY www.timcwethy.com of Sonoma, CA came here from Russia. Icons and traditional oil paintings, many of them including icons.
VALENTIN STRELTSOV and FR. THEODORE KOUFOS of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - www.ikonograph.com
JAN L. FARRELL of Albuquerque, New Mexico - www.Jansicons.com
Head of Christ, gold leaf and egg tempera on panel
The Fourth Day of Creation, acrylic, by BEVERLEY MIDDLETON of Alberta, Canada. This is only her second icon!
Lampada; oil painting by Tatiana McWethy
ANNA KENNY from the Green Mountains of Vermont paints icons prayerfully using egg tempera on natural gesso. At left is Anna's icon of the Theotokos.
Contact Anna Kenny here.
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