WORKSHOPS AND ICON DIPLOMA
ICON PAINTING WORKSHOPS 2020
Aidan will be running two five day icon courses this year, one in May 25-29 and the other in September 14-18. This will be held as usual at beautiful Walcot Hall, Lydbury North, Shropshire. Click the link below to find out more about the workshops. In May we will be painting a bust (waist up) and in September painting a full figure. Places book up quickly so please email me as soon as possible if you would like to book a place.
MOSAIC WORKSHOPS IN 2020
Aidan's collegue Martin Earle has been invited to run two mosaic courses this year - one in Calgary, Canada (August 17 - 22), and the other on Lesvos, Greece (September 17 - 24).
These week long workshops will be opportunities to create two mosaic studies using the finest Venetian materials while learning about the principles of the Byzantine technique. They are particularly well suited to icon painters who want to start making mosaic work but would be accessible to anyone who wants to learn more about this ancient craft.
Course information
August 17-22 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
5 and a half day workshop organised by the Sacred Arts Guild of Alberta. A course fee of CAD$895 (around £520) covers tuition and all materials. More information available soon. In the meantime please email the course organiser, Katalin Kiss, directly at SAGAWorkshops@gmail.com, for more information.
September 17-24 in Vatoussa, Lesvos, Greece
5 and a half day day workshop held in a beautiful traditional mountain village. Eight days accommodation, all materials and delicious lunches included in the course fee of €680 (around £580). Download a flier about the course here. For more information, including details of the best ways to arrive in Lesvos, please contact the course organiser, Ann Welch, directly at ann.j.welch@gmail.com.
CERTIFICATE IN ICON PAINTING FROM THE PRINCE’S SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL ARTS
A three year part-time course, three days a month for seven months of the year, accredited by the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts. Find out more about the certificate at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts website. If you wish to be notified when applications are being accepted for the 2019/2021 programme, please email Aidan at mail@aidanharticons.com. This course, taught by Aidan Hart and run by the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, is based on the traditional model of master and apprentice teaching. Instruction will cover all the processes required to create traditional icons in egg tempera, including panel preparation, gessoing, gilding, pigment making, design principles and painting techniques. The practical work of the students will be placed into context through studies of the masterpieces of icon painting and talks on theology and the relationship of iconography to church architecture and worship. Students will also be guided in ways of developing their skills in the contemporary business environment. The course is based in Shropshire, and consists of seven three-day sessions a year, with extra practical studies requiring at least a further four hours work a week at home. The next intake will be in 2019. If you have any questions about the Certificate please contact Aidan at mail@aidanharticons.com.NEW BOOK: ‘BEAUTY MATTER SPIRIT: Icons in the Modern World’ by Aidan Hart
A long awaited collection of essays on contemporary issues as seen through the theology of the icon, covering subjects such as ecology, the role of the material world in the spiritual life, beauty, the revival of liturgical art, the nature of the human person, and abstract art. 240mm x 170mm 256pp + 32pp colour plates. Soft cover, £14.99. ORDER YOUR COPY NOW Click here for more information.
ALSO: “Techniques of Icon and Wall-painting” by Aidan Hart
The most comprehensive book to date on the techniques of icon and wall painting. 460 pages, with over 450 colour illustrations and 160 drawings. 227mm x 278mm. Hard cover, £40. BUY YOUR COPY NOW For more information and to preview book.
FIVE-DAY SUMMER COURSES AT THE PRINCES SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL ARTS
PSTA is also running a range of five-day courses in London and elsewhere which include various liturgical arts. See the webpage below for details https://www.psta.org.uk/open-programme.
A CERTIFICATE COURSE IN ICON PAINTING, SHROPSHIRE
The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts
The course is run by The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts (which is based in Shoreditch, London). Classes are held at the beautiful Holy Trinity Centre in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 9HF. Aidan Hart will be the chief tutor. There may also be the odd visiting tutor. This is perhaps the only course of its type in the English speaking world, where the skills and theology of icon painting are taught systematically with regular tuition over a reasonably long period of time. This gives greater scope to enter more deeply into the tradition than can be provided by attendance at isolated five-day courses.
WHAT THE COURSE OFFERS
The three year part-time course covers the techniques of egg tempera icon panel painting, placing these in the context of the Orthodox Church's theology of the icon. The course will be taught primarily by Aidan Hart, along with some visiting tutors. Areas to be studied include: pigment and panel preparation; techniques of egg tempera icon painting; theology of the icon; studies of icon masterpieces; the relationship of iconography to church architecture and worship; business skills. Included in the course fees are the lunches, Monday and Tuesday evening meals, and morning and afternoon tea refreshments. There will be the same twelve students for the duration of the three year course, so that the tutor can give his time to this one group. Students will be expected to do at least four hours of additional study a week.
WHEN
Practical sessions run from 9 am to 5 pm. A lecture or seminar is given on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 5.30-6.45 pm. Eleven lectures or seminars will be given each year. Teaching will be held seven times a year for three academic years. Each session runs for three consecutive days, on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, in the months of October, November, February, March, May, June, and September. Sessions will usually, but not always, be held during the last week of these months.
WHERE
The classes are held in the beautiful premises of The Holy Trinity Centre, Church Road, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 9HF.
COST
The fee per year is £1,650, to be paid in advance of the course starting each academic year in October. The fee includes tuition, lunch, Monday evening meal, and refreshments. Accommodation is the responsibility of the student, but a list of bed and breakfasts will be provided (average price about £35 per person per night). Students are expected to provide their own materials, at an estimated cost of up to £400 per year.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are now closed for the 2016-2019 programme. For further information and to be kept in touch about the next round of applications please email Aidan Hart at mail@aidanharticons.com.