Icon Institute

Icon Institute The first professional art school in the USA where iconography is taught 1. The skill is acquired both through copying old samples, and by drawing by hand.

Iconographic Drawing
The students acquire the skill of understanding the patterns of drawing in an icon. They
learn the rhythm, the ratio of the whole image and its parts, building a composition. This
is the central subject in the entire learning process.
2. Fundamentals of Academic Drawing and Perspective
The subject is aimed at replenishing the basic skills of academic drawing. This
especially c

oncerns those students who did not learn it at school or college. The
representation of simple three-dimensional geometric shapes (cube, ball, cylinder,
etc.). The arrangement of a three-dimensional form on a plane. Skull, head, plaster
facial features (nose, eyes, lips), écorché. Introduction to human anatomy. Perspective.
3. Technology of materials
The study of technologies and materials used in traditional church art: egg tempera,
fresco, mosaic, encaustic. Modern materials: glue paints, acrylic, gouache, etc.
4. Fundamentals of Formal Composition
The study of the basic principles of building a composition. Classical geometric
shapes, symmetry-asymmetry, balance, dynamics. Information about the Golden
Section. The viewer's perception of the elements of formal composition.
5. Fundamentals of Chromatology
Basic information about the color spectrum, the harmonious combination of colors,
options for building a color composition. The effect of the color structure of the image
on the viewer.
6. Fundamentals of Calligraphy
Basic knowledge of various fonts and their use in iconography. Practical skills.
7. Work with material
Mastering the complete process of creating an icon from the preparatory drawing to
the finishing coat. The basis of practice is egg tempera. Parallel study of the processes
of preparation of boards, gesso, gilding. Study of the fresco "a secco", acrylic, glue
paints. All subjects include theoretical and practical parts. At the beginning of the training, subjects are taught separately. Over time (since
around the third semester) they are increasingly combined in the work with the
material. All subjects are directed to creation of a full-fledged iconographic image. AUXILIARY SUBJECTS

1. Church Art History
1. History of Church Art and Architecture
2. Contemporary Church Art
3. Fundamentals of Sacred Space Design
The subject is taught throughout the entire period of study. It has the form of lectures,
debates, seminars, studies of museum collections and modern church ensembles.
2. Brief History of the Christian Church
Main milestones and paths of development of the Christian Church from its foundation
to the present day.
3. Fundamentals of Dogmatic Theology
Study of the Dogmatic Theology of the Orthodox Church to the extent necessary for
the future icon-painters. Introduction to Liturgical Studies.

Lectures about Byzantine architecture and some painting and drawing by first year students at the background
02/03/2026

Lectures about Byzantine architecture and some painting and drawing by first year students at the background

Two students are finally successfully survived the first iconic exercise.
11/12/2025

Two students are finally successfully survived the first iconic exercise.

The lecture about brilliant modern iconographer Alexander Soldatov.
11/12/2025

The lecture about brilliant modern iconographer Alexander Soldatov.

The color theory lecture
11/11/2025

The color theory lecture

One of our Lectures in school. General history of arts.Egyptian and Greek art as a root of European christian art.(Just ...
11/05/2025

One of our Lectures in school.
General history of arts.
Egyptian and Greek art as a root of European christian art.
(Just a few photos to illustrate the process.)

A lof of history of arts lectures per week.
10/28/2025

A lof of history of arts lectures per week.

https://orthodoxartsjournal.org/organicity-and-sham/Anton's Daineko article about Church's art
10/20/2025

https://orthodoxartsjournal.org/organicity-and-sham/

Anton's Daineko article about Church's art

Author’s Note: This article was written for a Moscow magazine on church aesthetics, and speaks to the situation with church art in parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church. In American churches, the…

Treatment for iconography students from monks :) pizza lunch.
10/16/2025

Treatment for iconography students from monks :) pizza lunch.

The lecture about organicity in church architecture, design and painting
09/17/2025

The lecture about organicity in church architecture, design and painting

Address

175 St Tikhon`s Road
Waymart, PA
18472

Telephone

+17077101418

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