HAPPY EASTER! Icon Writing and Other Stuff

Easter brings out the Icons

Clockwise, left: The very first icon I painted, Archangel Michael. All students at the Prosopon School of Iconology begin with this image; Richard Gere's photograph, South Pole, 2003; Jeffris Elliott's miniature print, Islamic Woman Ascending Stairs. Center: Sean Perry's Transitory exhibition announcement; Richard Gere's silver gelatin print, Dawn|Giza, 2005; my second icon painting, Archangel Gabriel. Booklet The 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas/Eight Verses on Training The Mind. Center: Native American relic–a gift from In The American West travels; kata from the Dalai Lama. Photographs © copyrighted material/All Rights Reserved

Bodhi Leaf from Bodh Gaya, India

Top clockwise: Traditional Japanese Tanba woodfired ceramic vase by Tanba artist Kiyoharu Ichino (new Ichino Exhibition April 2-May 5, 2010, Touching Stone Gallery); photograph of dancing Tibetan kids by Robyn Brentano; Edward S. Curtis photograph, Tobadzischini-Navajo; Bodhi leaf from The Bodhi Tree (aka "Tree of Awakening," is a direct descendant of the tree under which Siddharta Gautama Buddha attained Enlightenment), Bodh Gaya, India; antique laurel wreath crown gift; photograph, Tonenili-Navajo, by Edward S. Curtis; Traditional Japanese woodfired ceramic box by Tanba artist Kiyoharu Ichino; my practice pottery; center, greenish rock from Tibet, pottery I made with New Mexican Native American artist. Bottom: my drawing of my son for a painting; got the hat in Mongolia. Photograph © copyright/All Rights Reserved

The DADA Painters and Poets, Edited by Robert Motherwell

The DADA book, given to me by friend and mentor Marvin Israel, sits on top of a stack of Diane Arbus: Aperture Monograph's (one of the best-selling art books in history), he and Doon Arbus edited and designed to accompany their posthumous Diane Arbus exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1972; right, FAIRGROUNDS: Photographs by Sean Perry, a signed limited edition catalog, created with Jace Graf of Cloverleaf Press.

Prosopon School of Iconography

Russian Iconographer Dmitri Andrejev

Andrejev demonstrating his masterful painting technique

These days everybody is a Master and nobody an apprentice,

that's why we don't understand our chaotic nature

For a time I studied Icon Writing with Russian-born Master Icon Painters, Vladislav Andrejev, founder of The Prosopon School of Iconography and his son, Dmitri Andrejev. I practiced for the artistic difficulty and disciple of it. Since it's Easter, I thought it appropriate to pay homage to their work.

"The ancient Russian-Byzantine tradition of icon-writing reached its apogee during the XV century. Today, the iconographer within Prosopon attempts to produce icons reflecting the same state of inner, contemplative depth evident in the greatest examples of that tradition, through refinement of artistic nuance and attention to the iconographic canon and principles. As is fitting to the icon’s sacred function, only natural materials are used: wood panels gessoed with natural ground, genuine gold leaf applied by the bole method, egg tempera using ground pigments, and linseed oil finish. The iconographic method of the School is characterized by a multi-step process in which the succession of steps is concrete and definite, as are the liturgical services of the Church. Although striving for a high artistic level, the focus of the icon-writer is nevertheless on a personal spiritual discipline and growth."–Prosopon School, Technique and Method

Master Iconographer Vladislav Andrejev was born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1938. After receiving formal education in fine art, Vladislav became interested in religious art, which was impossible to practice during the Soviet regime. The search for deeper meaning in art and life led him to solitary travels in parts of the Russian wilderness, and to the independent study of icon and fresco painting with a monk icon-writer. In 1980, Vladislav emigrated to the United States. He has 'written' numerous icons which can be seen in many churches and homes throughout the world. Vladislav’s iconographic technique and teaching method developed into a distinct school of painting. In 2000, he established The Prosopon School of Iconology, to promote this method and to promote the understanding of iconography and iconology.

Film: Vladislav and Dmitri Andrejev painted the dome of St. Michael's Church in St. Michael, Minnesota. Yevgeniy Vaskevich made a film about the project. To view the short Film, choose "Founder" here"

BEFORE: Scaffolding before Icons were drawn on the ceiling dome to scale. Copyright © Prosopon School of Iconology and Iconography /All Rights Reserved

DURING: Russian Master Iconographer Vladislav Andrejev painting. Copyright © Prosopon School of Iconology and Iconography /All Rights Reserved

AFTER: The almost completed Icon painted dome of St. Michael's Church in St. Michael, Minnesota. Copyright © Prosopon School of Iconology and Iconography /All Rights Reserved

2 DVD set
Instruction performed by Master Iconographer Vladislav Andrejev $98
Prosopon School of Iconography + Pandora Iconographer's Supplies