Iconography Apprenticeship Year 1

The Apprenticeship Year 1 course focuses on iconography, a form of religious art, specifically concentrating on representations of the faces of the Theotokos and Christ Child in the "Kazan" icon using traditional egg tempera and gilding techniques. It is designed for students entering or currently in 7th grade and above, with a prerequisite of basic representational drawing skills, particularly the ability to draw a face with details like eyes and eyebrows. The course aims to teach both the theology and artistic practices inherent in traditional iconography,with a skills-based approach that emphasizes preliminary exercises and understanding of color, composition, and iconographic style. The commitment involves 75-minute weekly classes, homework assignments, and the gradual acquisition of essential art supplies. The learning outcomes include drawing faces in the Byzantine style, understanding the steps of painting and types of paint application, and demonstrating these skills in a final one-on-one oral exam with the instructor.