Online School Icon Workshop

I was approached by St. Benedict School in Edmonton to do an “Artist in Residence” program, on the theme of Icons.  Due to covid we had to tweak the program a bunch and now I call it the “Iconographer in Virtual Residence” program.  Below are the videos I am using with the school to teach the students from Grades K-3 & 4-6, as well as their teachers.

I am planning to use a similar icon and instructions for our Camp Oselia program this summer.  I also suppose this now can be easily reproduced for other schools, camps or parishes if they would want it.  If they do, they should contact me with plenty of warning, as it takes time to cut the boards and assemble the materials.

Each student (and many teachers) received a carved out board like the one you see here.  I cut deeper ones for the younger students, and not-so deep ones for the older ones.

It took me a lot of time to cut the 260+ boards for them all, but I must say in the end I am kinda proud of the results.  I do however now have a very dusty garage, and made my wife park outside for a while… sorry dear… I will clean it.

Also, I provided each student with a small paint brush, because the typical brushes that elementary schools have are… big, hard and not very good for detailed painting.  And 7 colours of acrylic paint.

I would very much like to thank Benjamin Moore Paint store in Sherwood Park for generously donating the paint.  This was an unexpected blessing.  Thanks.

The videos, which can be found below, were used to teach the lessons:

Program for K-3 (can be adjusted as teacher sees fit)

Video What is needed.
0Teacher Setup
1What is an Iconpencil
2Background, the Kingdomyellow
3God becomes Fleshdark flesh
4Clothes, both God and Manred & blue
5AHair Power!Dark Brown
6Jesus the PriestYellow
7AHe is looking at youDark Brown
8Holy Spirit – Our LightGold
13Blessing the Icon

Program for 4-6 (can be adjusted as teacher sees fit)

Video What is needed.
0Teacher Setup
1What is an Iconpencil
2Background, the Kingdomyellow
3God becomes Fleshdark flesh
4Clothes, both God and Manred & blue
5BHair Power!dark brown
6Jesus the Priestyellow
7BHe is looking at youdark brown, light flesh & blue
8Holy Spirit – Our Lightgold
9Jesus Christ – I AMred
10The Face of Godlight flesh
11Lips & Hair Highlightsdark flesh, red, light flesh, 
12Kings have blingyellow
13Blessing the Icon