Advanced Icon Workshop

advanced Iconography workshop

SHORT DESCRIPTION

This 5-day advanced icon painting workshop focuses on drawing the traditional garments of Christ. You'll gain a detailed understanding of how tunics and togas were worn historically and how to accurately depict them in iconography. We've organized the many ways a toga could be wrapped into several recognizable types that appear frequently in icons. This course is ideal for students who have completed at least one of our previous workshops (including Online Courses), and who wish to draw and paint icons freehand—without relying on tracing.

To simplify the complexity of garment folds, we begin with the anatomy of the torso. This foundational step helps you understand how fabric interacts with the body—how it reveals structure even as it conceals form. You'll learn how to trace the general flow of fabric, break down large folds into smaller ones, and master the logic behind these shapes.

Since tunics and togas were worn by many early Christian saints, this course will also equip you to draw other holy figures—not just Christ—with confidence and clarity. After completing this course, you won’t need to copy folds—you’ll understand how to construct them.

This intensive workshop combines hands-on practice with theoretical sessions supported by slides. We also explore theology, history, and contemporary issues in icon painting. To create an environment of deep focus and reflection, all work is done in silence—without music or conversation—allowing your drawings to evolve slowly and meaningfully.

People watching iconographer instructor drawing on easle.

GOAL

PROGRAM

Admiring medieval and ancient images—whether in reliefs, sculptures, or paintings—we’re often tempted to copy what we see without fully understanding what the artist intended or how the forms were originally conceived. Yet, unlike historical reconstructions, icons and other liturgical artworks remain authentic only when the artist makes thoughtful, personal decisions guided by both knowledge and inspiration.

The goal of this workshop is to explore the two traditional garments of Christ: the tunic and toga. We will examine their historical construction, learn to distinguish their variations, and practice drawing them from scratch with clarity and intention.

PROGRAM

Iconography Drawing course Half Figure. Garments focuses on the fundamental structures and forms of classical garments in iconography.

Students will be guided through a process of observing, sketching, and painting samples of each garment type and fold structure. This hands-on practice helps to internalize both the visual principles and the step-by-step method, allowing participants to apply these skills confidently in their future independent work.

To support this, we have developed a series of instructional drawings and guidelines to help students better absorb the material and feel more confident both during and after the course.

PRACTICE

The workshop will begin on Tuesday May 26 at 8:30 AM and will end about 4:30 PM on Saturday May 30, 2026. Every day we will work according to daily agenda (see above) from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM with one hour break for lunch and tersext and two or more short breaks for lectures with coffee or tea.

The goal of the workshop is to teach understanding the construction of the garments and specific types of folds, so that after the workshop students could recognize them in the traditional models. We are eager to provide as much information and practice as possible, so that they could draw any kind of folds with a desired level of detailing.

WHAT TO EXPECT

FOR WHOM

For those who have accomplished at least one of the workshops taught by Philip and Olga, including their online drawing course.

COST

FOR WHOM

$1,100 for 5 full days.

The fee includes:
Professional instructions and all materials including board, paints, and brushes.

Students are invited to join the monks for all meals.

Pre-registration Required.

SCHEDULE

FOR WHOM

ACTIVITIES

Period: May 26 -30, 2026
Icon Workshop Daily Agenda:
7:15 am – Matins
8:00 am – Continental Breakfast
8:30 am – Workshop
12:15 pm – Dinner
1:00 pm – Tersext
1:15 pm – Workshop
4:30 pm – End
5:00 pm – Vespers
6:00 pm – Supper

ACTIVITIES

Hands-on demonstrations, drawing and painting with personalised mentoring and comprehensive feedback, lectures and discussions.

Attendees of the workshop are invited to participate in daily church services and to be the guests of the monks for meals.

MATERIALS

ACTIVITIES

MATERIALS

We provide students with all the necessary tools and materials, however we recommend bringing own aprons, textbooks and pens/pencils for notes.

LOCATION

ACTIVITIES

MATERIALS

New Skete Monastery
273 New Skete Rd Cambridge,
NY 12816, USA

New Skete on Google maps

THE INSTRUCTORS

Philip Davydov

Second-generation iconographer with M.A. from State Fine Art Academy of Saint Petersburg (faculty of Theory and History of Art).
2001 co-founder of Sacred Murals Studio (St. Petersburg, Russia).
2005 - present: iconography instructor in the USA, Italy, Australia and other countries.
2006 - present: member of Union of Artists of Russia
2009 - 2022: professor at Institute of Theology and Sacred Arts (Saint Petersburg).
2021 November - December: head of Iconography School of St Petersburg Seminary.
2022 March - present: Iconographer, iconography instructor working in Tbilisi (Georgia).

Olga Shalamova

Philip Davydov

M.A. from State Fine Art Academy of Saint Petersburg (faculty of Theory and History of Art).
2009 - present: ember of the Union of Artists of Russia
2015 - 2021: chief artist of the embroidery workshop at Feodorovsky Cathedral in Saint Petersburg. 2022 March - present: Iconographer, iconography instructor working in Tbilisi (Georgia).

Author of the majority of our offline and online courses.
Actively participates in exhibitions of contemporary ecclesiastical art in Russia and abroad.

Ready to Enroll?

Advanced Iconography Drawing Workshop: Half Figure – Garments will begin on Tuesday May 26 at 8:30 AM and will end about 4:30 PM on Saturday May 30, 2026 and the cost will be $1100 USD for 5 full days.

This includes all teaching, as well as the tools and materials provided during the workshop. Students are invited to join the monks for meals. This includes a continental breakfast each morning, dinner (the monks eat their main meal of the day at 12:15pm), and a light supper. The registrations are handled by the New Skete.

Accommodations are not included.

Due to the small class size, the cost of hosting this workshop, and the distance the instructor(s) will be traveling, we must adhere to a strict cancellation policy.

Your $300 non-refundable deposit must be received at the time of registration. You may pay the balance in full at any time, otherwise a monthly payment plan will be established. (Reminders will be emailed.) Balance must be paid in full by March 30, 2025.

All payments are non-refundable unless the workshop is canceled.

Should circumstances require you to cancel, New Skete will make all reasonable attempts to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy is filled, New Skete will refund all but the $300 deposit.

Area Information

Guest Rooms at New Skete

Great room at Emmaus House - guesthouse at New Skete monastery. Snow in windows. Couches and chair

There are a limited number of guest rooms at the monastery.

If rooms are still available, links to request a guestroom will be emailed to you upon completing the registration and payment.

A list of inns, hotels, and motels will be emailed upon registration.

Area Information

Guest Rooms at New Skete

For information on the area visit,

Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce

Washington County New York

Bennington Vermont Chamber

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ADVANCED Icon drawing Workshop

Half Figures. Garments.

What We Will Train To Do

advanced Iconography workshop

SHORT DESCRIPTION

GOAL

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PRACTICE

WHAT TO EXPECT

FOR WHOM

FOR WHOM

FOR WHOM

COST

FOR WHOM

FOR WHOM

SCHEDULE

FOR WHOM

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

MATERIALS

ACTIVITIES

MATERIALS

LOCATION

ACTIVITIES

MATERIALS

THE INSTRUCTORS

Philip Davydov

Philip Davydov

Philip Davydov

Olga Shalamova

Philip Davydov

Philip Davydov

subjects

Day 1

Ready to Enroll?

Area Information

Guest Rooms at New Skete

Guest Rooms at New Skete

Guest Rooms at New Skete

Area Information

Guest Rooms at New Skete

Guest Rooms at New Skete

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