Workshops
Learn to paint a traditional Byzantine icon from start to finish under the instruction of Brian Matthew Whirledge, M.Ed., a teacher/iconographer who has painted hundreds of icons for homes and churches across the US for over a decade. Brian will help you make egg tempera paint from scratch, develop an underpainting, gild with 23k gold leaf, and artfully develop color, form, and light with egg tempera paint. We'll discuss the history and theology of icons, and tour the church to see icons in context.
Traditional egg tempera is my preferred medium as well as the preference of iconographers for centuries. We’ll use eggs from my parents’ free-range chickens, and natural mineral pigments made by God Himself. Egg tempera uniquely transfigures creation into sacred images, combining the vegetable (wood panel), animal (eggs), and mineral (pigments) kingdoms.
You will receive step-by-step instruction, demonstration, and all materials to paint this icon. A workshop is a spiritual retreat, as you will spend hours in prayer, face-to-face with Christ and the saints. Brian's hands-on workshops are for everyone: beginners without artistic experience will create a successful icon while advanced painters will be challenged.
St. Gregory Palamas Monastery, Ohio
January 20-24, 2025
Icon: The Holy Face of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ
Sacred Monastery of Saint Gregory Palamas, Perrysville, Ohio
This workshop is a pilgrimage/retreat at the monastery. As such, the monastery is only able to accomodate Orthodox Christian men.
Goshen, Indiana
February 22, 2025
Icon: The Holy Face of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ
Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church, Goshen, Indiana
Lord willing, we will paint this icon together, start to finish, in one day!
Knoxville, Tennesee
Date TBD
Icon: The Holy Face of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ
Apostles Anglican Church, Knoxville, Tennesee
Lord willing, we will paint this icon together, start to finish, in one day!
Pilgrimage and tour of Cyprus
October 1-12, 2025 (save the date!)
In partnership with OrthodoxTours.com, we will travel to the ancient Mediterranean island of Cyprus to experience her vast wealth of frescoes, icons, historical, Biblical, and archeological sites, natural beauty, and beaches. Please contact me to join a mailing list. I will provide more information as we finalize the itinerary and open registration.
South Bend, IndianA (Past)
October 7-11, 2024
Icon: Theotokos Hodegetria (Madonna and Child), half-figure
St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, South Bend, Ind.
Fort Wayne, Indiana (PAST)
May 13-18, 2024
Icon: Theotokos Hodegetria (Madonna and Child), half-figure
St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church
Goshen, Indiana (PAST)
February 26 - March 2, 2024
Icon: Saint Thekla, standing full figure
St. Mary's Orthodox Church