Iconography

[ThePilgrim]

How and where does one learn to write icons?

Grace and peace,
John

[Michael the Iconographer]

You learn to write icons by long and devoted study with someone qualified to teach iconography.

[ThePilgrim]

You learn to write icons by long and devoted study with someone qualified to teach iconography.
How many years does it usually take? How do you find someone to teach you?

A friend of mine is really interested in learning iconography, but he doesn't know how to begin to go about it. I've also thought about it, or at least about learning more about it.

Also, once you know how to write icons, how long does it take to do one that's say, 10x14?

Thanks for your help :-)

John

[Michael the Iconographer]

It can take up to 10 years of diligent study to get to the point where one can write icons that are of good quality. I can't say how long it takes to write a 10x14 icon because it all depends on the icon written, and a number of other variables.

[ThePilgrim]

It can take up to 10 years of diligent study to get to the point where one can write icons that are of good quality. I can't say how long it takes to write a 10x14 icon because it all depends on the icon written, and a number of other variables.
Is 10 years the norm? I know of people that write good icons that couldn't have studied for ten years.

Grace and peace,
John

[Dust and Ashes]

Is 10 years the norm? I know of people that write good icons that couldn't have studied for ten years.

Grace and peace,
John

"up to 10 years" Like it would probably take 10 years for me to learn and that's with St. Luke interceeding and helping. :D Someone with more talent and maybe formal training in art might pick it up much more quickly.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Is 10 years the norm? I know of people that write good icons that couldn't have studied for ten years.

Grace and peace,
John

It is an individual thing that can not be rushed. My icons did not look like I wanted them to look until after about 7 years of study. There is no rush to the study, and one must be diligent in studying. In the end iconography is a lifelong study, and should be life changing as well. Plus, it is not cheap to study iconography.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Is 10 years the norm? I know of people that write good icons that couldn't have studied for ten years.

Grace and peace,
John

I said "up to." There is no norm for how long it takes someone to learn to write icons. Just as there is no norm for how long it takes to write one. I have a friend who works at an icon part time and only a few hours a month. It takes her months to write icons. This past fall I was completing icons on the pace of about one every week. Iconography is prayer, and like all prayer there should be no racing involved in it.

[Cecilytwin]

I just want to post the website of Fr. Paul Akmolin, who just finished two absolutely beautiful icons for our church of St. John of San Francisco and St. John Chrysostom.
http://www.christthesavior.net/iconpage/icon_index.html

[ThePilgrim]

I said "up to." There is no norm for how long it takes someone to learn to write icons. Just as there is no norm for how long it takes to write one. I have a friend who works at an icon part time and only a few hours a month. It takes her months to write icons. This past fall I was completing icons on the pace of about one every week. Iconography is prayer, and like all prayer there should be no racing involved in it.

Please don't think I meant that one should race, either to become an iconographer or to complete an icon. I meant no disrepect to the vocation of iconographer. I hold it in high regard and you're justly proud of what you do. I only meant to look for information on what's usual.

I know that in the Younnis (sp) family, the family of Canadian priest with 7 daughters who sing (Abouna's Angels), some of his daughters do iconography, while still in their teens.

Grace and peace,
John

[Michael the Iconographer]

Please don't think I meant that one should race, either to become an iconographer or to complete an icon. I meant no disrepect to the vocation of iconographer. I hold it in high regard and you're justly proud of what you do. I only meant to look for information on what's usual.

I know that in the Younnis (sp) family, the family of Canadian priest with 7 daughters who sing (Abouna's Angels), some of his daughters do iconography, while still in their teens.

Grace and peace,
John

As I said, there are not that many people who are iconographers, so there is hardly anything that can be deemed usual. It takes a good number of years of steady practice and learning to be able to complete good icons. People love the work I do, and I am still quite unsatisfied with much of it. I would dare say those teens who are writing icons have been studying it for much of their life.

[choirfiend]

The best place to inquire may be a monastery, as iconography is work for many monastics. And there may be some sort of workshop available at the Village since they have that extensive icon studio space.

[Michael the Iconographer]

The best place to inquire may be a monastery, as iconography is work for many monastics. And there may be some sort of workshop available at the Village since they have that extensive icon studio space.

A friend of mine teaches classes at the Village.

[tall73]

Just out of curiosity, what is it that defines an icon as such. I am interested in both the artistic elements, and the "icon as prayer" element.

It is all new to me, so just looking either for information directly or some trustworthy links.

Thanks :)

[choirfiend]

This is a nice site. I especially like her examples of poor or non-traditional iconography, because I see some of those displayed here with frequency, and she really points out what is in error about them AND why that is so. http://www.byzantinesacredart.com/index.html

[tall73]

This is a nice site. I especially like her examples of poor or non-traditional iconography, because I see some of those displayed here with frequency, and she really points out what is in error about them AND why that is so. http://www.byzantinesacredart.com/index.html

Thanks :)