Alexandra Kaouki's Seminars

Alexandra Kaouki's Seminars

Iconographer Alexandra Kaouki has dedicated her work to the creation of portable icons and wall paintings, following the traditional Byzantine technique with a strong affinity for the Cretan School, an approach she also teaches through her seminars.

Sweetkissing 17-22.04.2017Students learning Byzantine icon painting techniques during an iconography workshop in 2017 led by Alexandra Kaouki, working on traditional religious iconsClose-up of a student applying traditional Byzantine icon painting techniques during an iconography workshop in 2017 by Alexandra KaoukiStudent painting a Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary during an iconography workshop in 2017, following traditional techniques taught by Alexandra KaoukiIconography workshop studio setup with easels and Byzantine icons in progress during a 2017 seminar led by Alexandra KaoukiStudents presenting their completed Byzantine icons at the end of an iconography workshop in 2017 led by Alexandra KaoukiHer method is defined by deep respect for authentic materials and for the clear, disciplined stages of the process: preparing the wooden panel, applying gold leaf, and painting with egg tempera, in keeping with the Byzantine tradition.

 

Mandylion 08-14.10.2017Students preparing traditional egg tempera materials during a Byzantine iconography workshop in 2017 led by Alexandra KaoukiStudents learning Byzantine icon painting techniques under guidance during an iconography workshop in 2017 by Alexandra KaoukiStudents presenting completed Byzantine icons of the Holy Mandylion at the end of an iconography workshop in 2017 led by Alexandra KaoukiAs part of her educational work, she organized iconography seminars designed to help students encounter the art in a truly hands-on way through practice, not theory alone.

Sweetkissing (Poland) 02-07.03.2018Student painting a Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary Eleousa during a workshop in Poland in 2018 under the guidance of Alexandra KaoukiStudents painting Byzantine icons during an iconography workshop in Poland in 2018 led by Alexandra Kaouki, learning traditional techniquesClose-up of a student painting a Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary Eleousa using traditional techniques during a workshop in Poland in 2018Iconography workshop classroom in Poland in 2018 with students working on Byzantine icons using traditional painting methodsStudents presenting completed Byzantine icons of the Virgin Mary Eleousa at the end of a workshop in Poland in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiHer experience in icon painting and church decoration is carried into the seminar space in a practical, accessible, and carefully guided manner, so that each participant feels “held by the hand” at every step.

Sweetkissing 09-14.04.2018Students preparing egg tempera materials during a Byzantine iconography workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiStudent painting a Byzantine icon under guidance during an iconography workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiClose-up of a student painting a Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary Eleousa using traditional techniques during a workshop in 2018Students presenting completed Byzantine icons of the Virgin Mary Eleousa at the end of an iconography workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiWithin a concise ten-day period, participants begin an icon from scratch and bring it to completion, regardless of prior experience.

Angel Gabriel 22-28.04.2018Students preparing egg tempera materials for painting a Byzantine icon of Archangel Gabriel during a workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiStudent painting a Byzantine icon of Archangel Gabriel under guidance during an iconography workshop in 2018 by Alexandra KaoukiStudents painting Byzantine icons in a workshop studio during an iconography seminar in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiStudents presenting completed Byzantine icons of Archangel Gabriel at the end of an iconography workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiThe training is structured step by step, enabling beginners to understand the proper sequence of the craft: from the ground and drawing, to gilding, successive layers of egg tempera, the building of light and shadow, and the final refinements.

Christ Sinai 13-18.05.2018Student painting a Byzantine icon of Christ Sinai under guidance during an iconography workshop in 2018 by Alexandra KaoukiStudent receiving certificate and presenting a completed Byzantine icon of Christ Sinai after finishing an iconography workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiBy the end of the seminar, each participant leaves not only with a completed icon, but with a clear, practical understanding of the entire process from the first preparation of the panel to the final refinements.

Theotokos 23- 28.09.2018Students preparing materials and working on a Byzantine icon of the Theotokos during an iconography workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiClose-up of students applying traditional techniques while painting a Byzantine icon of the Theotokos during a workshop in 2018Students presenting completed Byzantine icons of the Theotokos at the end of an iconography workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra Kaouki

Beyond technique, everyone gain confidence, discipline, and a deeper appreciation for the spiritual and artistic language of Byzantine iconography, knowing they can continue practicing with a solid foundation and a faithful respect for the tradition.

Pantocrator 01- 06.10.2018Students preparing egg tempera materials for painting a Byzantine icon of Christ Pantocrator during an iconography workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiStudents painting a Byzantine icon of Christ Pantocrator during an iconography workshop in 2018 under the guidance of Alexandra KaoukiIconographer Alexandra Kaouki guiding students while painting a Byzantine icon of Christ Pantocrator during a workshop in 2018Close-up of a student painting a Byzantine icon of Christ Pantocrator using traditional iconography techniques during a workshop in 2018Students presenting completed Byzantine icons of Christ Pantocrator at the end of an iconography workshop in 2018 led by Alexandra KaoukiThis seminar is also an invitation to self-discovery: through the guided process, students often uncover abilities they didn’t know they had—patience, precision, a trained eye for form and color, and the quiet confidence that comes from creating something meaningful with their own hands.

Pantocrator 6-11.5.2019Students preparing egg tempera materials for painting a Byzantine icon of Christ Pantocrator during an iconography workshop in 2019 led by Alexandra KaoukiStudents painting a Byzantine icon of Christ Pantocrator on easels during an iconography workshop in 2019 under the guidance of Alexandra KaoukiClose-up of a student painting the face of Christ Pantocrator using traditional Byzantine iconography techniques during a workshop in 2019Iconographer Alexandra Kaouki guiding a student while painting a Byzantine icon of Christ Pantocrator during a workshop in 2019Students presenting completed Byzantine icons of Christ Pantocrator at the end of an iconography workshop in 2019 led by Alexandra KaoukiWe also look forward to hosting future seminars, so that more interested participants will have the opportunity to come into direct contact with this historic and profoundly Byzantine art learning its methods, understanding its tradition, and experiencing the iconographic process firsthand!

 

 

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