An upcoming iconography class at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church will allow participants to delve into a traditional Christian art form.
“I love iconography,” said the Rev. Terri Degenhardt, St. Augustine’s rector, but she didn’t always feel that way. “I thought they were a little weird looking until I learned about them. And they are not supposed to be depicting humans. They are not painting of a picture of a person – It’s a representation of a person and the story they represent.”
St. Augustine’s has offered an annual icon-painting class for several years. Peter Pearson, who has been teaching iconography for 25 years and written two books on the subject, has been to Augusta before and will teach the three-day class at the church Aug. 6-8. He will also speak at the church on Aug. 9.
Iconography is an ancient church art representing a holy person or event. It’s not an actual likeness as a photograph would be.
It starts by using the darkest colors first and then adding in lighter shades. The traditional method uses egg tempera mixed with natural powdered pigment; a binder is created from egg yolk and water, resulting in a fast-drying paint which is applied in many thin layers.
“Byzantine Iconography is a highly structured and disciplined art form which combines prayer and painting techniques, following centuries old guidelines, to create serene images of Christ, Mary, the angels,” according to the church flyer on the class.
Icons are rich with symbols and are designed to tell stories similar to the way stained glass windows do.
Degenhardt has been interested in the art form for many years and finds creating the pieces a prayerful exercise, sometimes revealing things about herself. Degenhardt took her first icon class before she entered the priesthood. She was considering seminary at the time.
The eyes are the last part to be painted, and when she asked for help with hers, the instructor noticed her eyes were looking in a different direction from everyone else’s.
The icon painting workshop will focus on the image of “Jesus as Lord of History” using an icon by Father Ruberval Monteiro da Silva as the prototype. Monteiro da Silva is a Brazilian monk whose art and murals can be found in his home country and throughout Latin America and Europe, the flyer said.
Most icon workshops can take a week, but this one involves a less complicated image and is designed to accommodate people’s work schedules, she said.
The class will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 6-7 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 8. The cost is $325. For more information, contact Amanda Peacock at amandaspeacock@gmail.com or 706-830-4719.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named best local writer by readers of Augusta Magazine in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
