Masterworks Byzantine Icons Unique Orthodox Icons

The creation time varies based on size, complexity, and my current commission schedule:

• Festal icons with multiple figures: 3-6 months
• Complex masterwork compositions: 8-14 months

Please note that iconography cannot be rushed — the traditional process requires proper drying time between layers of gesso, gold leaf application, and paint. I will provide a realistic timeline during our consultation and keep you informed of progress throughout.

I use exclusively traditional materials and techniques that have been perfected over centuries, ensuring your icon will endure for generations:

• Wood panel: Seasoned linden or cypress, aged minimum 2 years, with dovetail splines to prevent warping
• Ground preparation: Rabbit skin glue, natural linen canvas, and 10-12 layers of hand-applied levkas (chalk gesso)
• Gold leaf: Genuine 23k or 24k gold leaf applied over Armenian bole using water gilding technique
• Pigments: Hand-ground natural mineral pigments and earth colors sourced from traditional suppliers
• Binder: Fresh egg yolk tempera — the same medium used since antiquity
• Finish: Natural olifa (linseed oil varnish) for protection and luminosity

I never use acrylic paints, synthetic gold, or modern shortcuts. This commitment to authenticity is what distinguishes hand-painted icons from mass-produced reproductions.

Yes, I ship worldwide and have delivered icons to clients across Europe, North America, Australia, and the Middle East. Each icon is professionally packaged for safe transit:

• Acid-free tissue and glassine paper to protect the surface
• Custom-fitted foam padding
• Double-walled cardboard or wooden crate for larger works
• Climate-resistant outer packaging

Shipping is via DHL, FedEx, or UPS with full insurance coverage and tracking. Delivery typically takes 5-10 business days internationally. Shipping costs are calculated based on destination and icon dimensions — I will provide an exact quote before you commit. For EU destinations, I handle all customs documentation.

Absolutely — custom commissions are my specialty. I focus on complex, multi-figure compositions while maintaining strict adherence to canonical iconographic traditions. Common requests include:

• Great Feasts and liturgical cycles
• Specific Marian types (over 700 documented iconographic types exist)
• Multi-scene narrative compositions
• Complex theological subjects (Second Coming, In Thee Rejoiceth)
• Rare iconographic types from Byzantine and Cretan traditions

For rare or unusual subjects, I conduct thorough research using historical prototypes, iconographic manuals (Hermeneia), and museum archives to ensure theological accuracy. I will present preliminary sketches for your approval before beginning the final work.

I offer a straightforward payment structure designed to protect both parties:

• 50% deposit: Due upon acceptance of the commission to secure your place in my schedule and cover initial materials
• 50% balance: Due upon completion, before shipping

Accepted payment methods include bank transfer (SEPA/SWIFT), PayPal, and major credit cards. For masterwork commissions exceeding €5,000, I offer flexible payment plans — for example, 50% deposit, 25% at midpoint, 25% upon completion.

You will receive a formal commission agreement outlining the scope, timeline, and payment terms before any deposit is requested.

Yes. The creation of an icon is itself a prayerful act — I maintain a practice of prayer throughout the painting process, following the tradition of iconographers throughout the centuries.

Upon completion, each icon is blessed by an Orthodox priest according to the rite for the blessing of icons. You will receive:

• A signed certificate of authenticity
• Documentation of materials and techniques used
• Confirmation of blessing with date

Many clients also choose to have their icon blessed again upon arrival by their parish priest, which I warmly encourage as a beautiful way to formally receive the icon into your home or church.

Yes, I believe clients should witness the sacred journey of their icon's creation. I provide regular updates at key milestones:

• Stage 1: Prepared panel and transferred drawing
• Stage 2: Gold leaf application complete
• Stage 3: Base colors and roskrish (underpainting)
• Stage 4: Completed painting before varnishing
• Stage 5: Finished icon with final varnish

Updates are sent via email with high-resolution photographs. For complex commissions, I'm happy to schedule video calls to discuss progress in detail. This transparency ensures your complete satisfaction with the final result.

Icons created with traditional materials are remarkably durable — Byzantine icons have survived for over a thousand years. To preserve your icon for future generations:

• Placement: Display in a stable environment away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and excessive humidity. Ideal conditions are 40-60% humidity and consistent temperature.
• Cleaning: Dust occasionally with a soft, dry brush or cloth. Never use water, cleaning sprays, or polishes.
• Handling: When moving the icon, hold it by the edges. Avoid touching the painted surface, as oils from skin can damage the finish over time.
• Veneration: It is customary to venerate icons by kissing the hands or feet of the figure, or the border — not the face.

Each icon includes a care guide with these instructions. With proper care, your icon will be an heirloom passed down for generations.

Yes, I have extensive experience creating icons for liturgical settings, including:

• Individual icons for church interiors and chapels
• Iconostasis panels and Royal Doors
• Despotic icons (Christ and Theotokos flanking the Royal Doors)
• Festal tier icons for iconostasis
• Monastery and seminary commissions

For ecclesiastical projects, I work closely with clergy and building committees from the initial planning stages. I can provide architectural consultations, iconographic program recommendations, and scaled drawings for approval. Site visits can be arranged for major installations.

Special pricing is available for church commissions and multi-icon orders. Please contact me to discuss your parish's vision.

Selecting a complex icon is a spiritual decision as much as an aesthetic one. Here are guidelines to help you discern:

• For a home icon corner: The Dormition or a Great Feast meaningful to your family
• For a church or chapel: The Second Coming, Hymn to the Theotokos, or a festal cycle
• For meditation on salvation: The Crucifixion in narrative composition
• For Marian devotion: The Theotokos Hodegetria with Prophets, or rare Marian types
• As a family heirloom: Masterwork compositions that will be treasured for generations

If you're uncertain, I'm delighted to guide you. During our consultation, we can discuss your spiritual life, the space where the icon will reside, and what draws you to this sacred art. The right icon often reveals itself through this conversation.

I specialize in medium to monumental scale complex compositions:

• Medium (40-50cm): Festal icons for home icon corners — from €2,500
• Large (50-70cm): Statement pieces with narrative detail — from €4,000
• Monumental (80cm+): Masterwork compositions for churches and collectors — from €8,000

Custom dimensions are always possible — I will prepare panels to your exact specifications. The size of complex multi-figure compositions is determined by the number of figures and scenes required to properly depict the subject.

Because each icon is a unique work created specifically for you, I have a structured approach to ensure your satisfaction:

• Before work begins: We agree on subject, size, style, and reference images. You approve a preliminary sketch.
• During creation: You receive progress photos at each major stage with opportunity for feedback.
• Minor revisions: Small adjustments to inscriptions, background colors, or details can be made during the painting process at no charge.
• Major changes: Significant alterations to an approved design after work has progressed may incur additional fees.

The 50% deposit is non-refundable once work has commenced, as it covers materials and reserved studio time. However, in over 20 years of creating icons, I have never had a dissatisfied client. My commitment is to create an icon that exceeds your expectations and serves as a window to heaven for generations.