Acrylic Iconography Workshop for Middle School | Fall

The all-new Middle School iconography workshop offering will be structured around painting an icon, just like with the Upper School workshops, but geared toward students in the 9-12-year-old age range.

This Fall we will “write” an icon of St. Paraskevi using acrylic paint. Each class session we will work on our main icon, but also do lots of other activities to strengthen artistic skills. We will always begin class with prayer and a short presentation related to the iconography and/or the saint or subject we are writing. Students will learn in every iconography workshop how to mix and apply acrylic paint for iconography and render the saint using highlights and linework.

Additionally, we will cycle through skills in a 3-year cycle, focusing on one per workshop. The skills can be learned in any order, so students who take 3 years of Middle School workshops can start at any point and never repeat exactly the same content, nor come in behind their classmates. The skill-focus will relate to color, tone and value, facial features, Byzantine lettering, and painting lines.

In the Fall of 2026, we will be focusing on Facial Features

• 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:
  1. Visit zoom.us/download.
  2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
  3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
  4. 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.