EIKON - ARTLAB

EIKON - ARTLAB icon-painting workshop (religious icons) is in Heraklion, Crete.

Icons depict holy persons – Saints. The faces of the holy are depicted on the icon’s wood. Serene faces full of spirituality, etched on unwavering paths of faith and tradition, testify to the power and history of Byzantine Art - an art that has been handed down with reverence from generation to generation.

At the EIKON - ARTLAB workshop we create icons following original Byzantine works. We start by preparing the wood - which includes applying the traditional gesso, then go on to design the subject, paint the icon and, finally, varnish the wood to protect the icon from environmental pollutants. For paints, we use icon painting powders dissolved in egg and vinegar (egg tempera).

We also carry out preservation and restoration work on icons & paintings, always with reverence and understanding of the piece we are working on.

A Few Words about the Workshop:

The workshop offers classes in icon painting for anyone who wants to learn this sacred art. Everyone can attend our classes, regardless of age or profession, and create their own icons during the course. During your studies at our school, you will be taught according to the Cretan school of Byzantine icon painting. Courses start in October and last until the end of May. EIKON - ARTLAB also hosts short-term seminars, with exhibitions on the art of icon painting being held throughout the year.

Wood - Processing:

At EIKON - ARTLAB, we stock wood for icon painting (various sizes), prepared using the best materials. We use the traditional Byzantine filling technique (hot method).