Prince’s School of Traditional Arts (PSTA) – Previous Course in Icon Painting

Currently, there are no courses at the PSTA given from the BIC. In the past, we have cooperated with the PSTA and remain very positive towards it, and thank his HRH Prince Charles for having visited us.

Supervisor and Assessor:

Visiting Tutors:

Graduate Opportunities:

Course:

Assessment: by submission of work, including 7 completed icons, notes and a 3000 word dissertation in English.

Costs:

Language: English


Entrance requirements:

  • basic artistic ability.
  • demonstrable ability to read and speak in English.
  • first-hand knowledge of Christianity and its lived traditions.
  • A commitment to serious study.
  • All students must be over 18.

The Course:

Aim of the Course

To give students a firm foundation in the techniques and theology of panel icon painting as a basis for their admission to the BIC Workshop as working iconographers.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course students should be able to paint skilfully executed panel icons in egg tempera that adhere to the traditional principles of the icon tradition of the Orthodox and other eastern Churches, clearly expressing the transfigured world that lies at the heart of its theology.

The programme’s understanding of the icon tradition is rooted in the early Byzantine works of the Holy Land and elsewhere, western medieval iconography such as works from the Carolingian and Romanesque periods, as well as Greek, Russian, and contemporary icon schools.

Student Commitment

  1. do a minimum of seven hours icon painting or research a week in addition to class time.
  2. work collectively; support other students, and be committed to the ethos of the BIC.
  3. attend all sessions and make comprehensive notes, be prepared to begin promptly, and come properly prepared.
  4. complete a 3000 word dissertation and submit it on time.
  5. complete and submit for assessment at least seven icons to an exhibition standard and legible notes from the Course.

Assessment

  1. During the first year one-to-one meetings will be held with the Tutor to discuss how things are going (with both skill learning and theory) and to evaluate work. The Assessor will also visit and make an interim assessment.
  2. After the completion of the second year students’ work will be submitted to and adjudicated by the Assessor.

The Bethlehem Icon School has excellent dedicated facilities and students will have access to these between 10am and 7pm each day, except Sundays. Arrangements can also be made to use the facilities in the evenings.