Byzantine Manuscript Illumination | Spring

This course will explore Orthodox Iconography in the medieval manuscript tradition. Manuscript icons are unique for two reasons: 1) They focus on narrative and didactics, and 2) They include more decorative elements than panels and frescoes. Décor comes from French de Coeur meaning “from the heart.” These decorative elements are more than just space fillers, they are the visual expression of what is happening in the artist’s soul. Through this course we will dive into both the theory and practice of manuscript illumination. In the theory lessons, we will look at the expanded repertoire of iconography in manuscripts, how the images interact with the text, and how these images come from the Orthodox phronema. In the practical lessons, we will draw various decorative elements and paint an icon on paper using watercolor, gouache, or egg tempera.

Required Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course.

Hot-Pressed Watercolor Paper, minimum of 2 sheet for the final project and color study but recommend several sheets for additional studies/practice/etc. (can be any of these sizes: 8x10, 8.5x11, 11x14, or 11x17)
1 Sketchbook (can be any of these sizes: 8x10, 8.5x11, 11x14, or 11x17. This does not need to be specific to this course, only a few pages are needed. In a pinch, printer paper is acceptable)
Brushes suitable for watercolor (sizes 5/0, 3/0, 1, and 3. Smaller brushes down to 10/0 or 20/0 are great for fine lines and are useful in this course but not required)
Watercolors, gouache, or pigments for egg tempera. Required colors: red ochre, yellow ochre, indigo, any black, titanium or permanent white (if using watercolor, white gouache is recommended over white watercolor). Optional colors: cyprus green, terre verte, alizarin crimson, carmine/cochineal, cadmium orange, cadmium yellow, naples yellow, ultramarine blue.
Ruler, compass, pencils for sketching (mechanical is best)
Two jars, one for fresh water and another for rinsing

Elijah Turrell

[email protected]

Elijah Turrell is a Liturgical Artist from Seattle, WA. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma and an M.A. in Traditional Arts from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. He grew up as a Baptist preacher’s kid in Oklahoma where his mom homeschooled him and his siblings. After nearly a decade in the US Navy and a few years working in civilian healthcare, he returned to school to study Iconography and other Liturgical Arts in London. His art focuses on Manuscript Illumination and draws from the many cultures within and around medieval Byzantium, particularly the pre-schism West. He approaches art as a spiritual practice and incorporates prayer and meditation with practical instruction in an effort to live out the Benedictine ethos of “Ora et Labora.” Outside of teaching and creating art, he enjoys cooking, reading, walking around the woods, volunteering at church, and spending time with his family.

Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.

High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.

Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)

Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm

Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:

Visit zoom.us/download.
Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
Open and run the installer on your computer.
In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.

Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.

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