Iconography Retreat

In this retreat, you will learn how to paint an icon of the Mother of God called “Eleusa” (Greek: tenderness, showing mercy). It depicts the Virgin Mary lovingly holding the Christ Child close to her cheek, symbolizing deep affection and mercy.

We will use traditional egg tempera on gessoed wooden panels. At the end of the retreat, you’ll be able to take home a beautiful icon painted by yourself, the fruit of many hours of hard work and prayer.

Cette retraite s'adresse aux iconographes qui ont déjà une certaine expérience de la tempera à l'œuf, et non aux débutants. Elle nécessite un certain degré d'autonomie.

If you have never learned from Brother Thomas or you’re not sure if this advanced retreat is right for you, feel free to reach out to him directly at [email protected].

Brother Thomas Skowron is a Capuchin Franciscan friar. He began painting icons in 2017. Br. Thomas studied at Eikonon Schole in Uzhgorod, Ukraine, an iconography school of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo and the Capuchin Custody of Ukraine and Russia, as well as with Fr. Anthony Gunin and George Kordis.

He focuses on classical Byzantine and Neo-Byzantine iconography and traditional technique of egg tempera, but he’s also interested in contemporary trends, in particular in the art of Jerzy Nowosielski and new iconography of Lviv, Ukraine.

$920 for single bedroom
$620 for commuters
(meals and supplies included)