Pecos Benedictine Monastery
Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey in Pecos, NM

Stained Glass Workshop
August 15 - 22, 2010
The School of Iconography at the Pecos Benedictine Monastery is offering a Stained-Glass Class for beginning students. The class will involve the methods and materials for learning basic techniques in copper foiling. One week-long project wil be completed, with instruction and guidance from tutors who have done stained glass projects for the past twenty-five years.
Price: $700, including room and board, tuition and all materials.
Reservations are limited so please book early.
Download forms:

Information Sheet,
Application form & send with deposit


stngls1stngls2a


Please contact the Icon School Director, or call the Guestmaster of the Monastery if you need further assistance. Bro. John Davies, OSB Oliv. Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey P.O. Box 1080 Pecos, NM 87552-1080 Tel. 505-757-6600 Ext. 233 Fax. 505-757-2285



This forthcoming school will be a unique study and practical application of the theology behind icons and how the participants can develop their spiritual and artistic skills in making icons. An icon in itself is a prayer rendered in paint and as the iconographer makes an icon, he or she actually prays with a paintbrush. Each stroke, each breath in between and each inspiration from the soul is an experience worth relishing for a lifetime.

Pecos Abbey is an ideal environment to study iconography. Nestled in the Pecos River Valley of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of the mountains, Pecos River and our community.






School of Iconography and Liturgical Arts
May 23 - June 13, 2010

(Students may enroll for the full 3 week school or for any individual week or weeks.)

Week 1: May 23-30 This will be a class in drawing skills only.  Students will study observation skills and will concentrate on the practice of drawing feet, hands, faces, clothing and drapery.  Included in this course will be the study of sacred geometry and composition.  The course is designed to accommodate beginners in drawing and the focused study will also benefit the more advanced student.  No previous ability to draw is required.  Tutor will be Jackie Nelson BA. 

Week 2: May 30-June 6 This will be a painting workshop in which an icon will be drawn onto a panel and painted (written) under supervision.  Pigment and panel preparation techniques will be studied.  By the end of the week an icon should be completed.  Tutor will be Peter Pearson.

Week 3: June 6-13
This week will be given to the study of the theology and history of the icon.  Included is the use of icons in liturgy and devotion, as well as symbolism in icons.  The inter-relationship of iconography, church architecture and worship will be explored, including studies of icon masterpieces. 

Activities this week include excursions to Orthodox Churches with picnic lunch, attendance at Great Vespers at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, followed by the end of school dinner at a restaurant in Santa Fe.  Tutor will be Fr. Anthony Salzman, MA Div.


Fees Include: Room and board, tuition and materials
Price: $700 per week for single room $600 per week for shared room
$200 deposit required on registration with the balance to be paid before commencement of the school.
Note: $200 discount for those attending all three weeks.
Students may enroll for the full 3 week school or for any individual week or weeks.


Download forms:


The school of iconography at Pecos monastery has had another successful year. The class this year was almost equally divided between new students and those returning for this unique experience of creating an icon within a monastic environment. The school this year was three weeks with a different and highly skilled and knowledgable instructor for each week. All students  finished an icon of either St. Benedict or of St. Scholatica and we had the blessing of the icons by fr. Sam after Sunday mass.
Talks are already underway for plans next year. Consider joining the class. If you can hold a paint brush and follow simple instructions, you too can create your own icon.


Iconschool2010sm
Iconography School 2010



Iconography Photos
clip_image002_0001
Praying before a Lecture


clip_image002_0003
A demonstration of painting an Icon


clip_image002_0004
Demonstration of putting on a halo

clip_image002_0005
A visit to St. Elias the Prophet Greek Orthodox Church


Iconography Links:

Peter Pearson

Fr. Anthony

Kathryn "Missy" Simnacher

www.lynnrunnellsicons.com