Iconographers Assemble!

That's supposed to sound like "The Avengers" by the way.

I am always, in fact, calling all iconographers to assemble - not just because of my app and workshops (although we will talk about that in a minute), but because I truly love the Icon.

I remember the first time I encountered icons and how I felt so liberated by them. As an artist, striving to find his place in the contemporary secular art world, I just felt like I always had to work out a way to innovate in some manner. And that’s just so tiring and frustrating… and then I saw this beautiful tradition that I could just slide into and be free from all that ego and personal obsession. That’s not to say I thought “oh good now I can just copy and no one will think I’m a failure.” On the contrary, this is a living tradition - one that continually remanifests and renews itself whilst at the same time travelling within a beautiful and consistent line of truth. And I guess this is what makes iconography so special - not just its aesthetic appeal, but the fact that you can really live it. You know what I mean? It’s so much more than just painting - it’s a whole beautiful world you are invited to participate in. And it’s transforming, sanctifying… well, if you have the discipline and humility for it. And I guess that’s what takes me to the next thought for the day:

So the Icon Builder app is gradually and steadily growing. Of course there have been some technical teething problems but it’s steadily coming into it’s own and I myself (who made the thing) am coming to terms with it and learning how to live with the beast. When I conceived of the idea to make an iconography app I just thought, “oh that will be good - I’ll just make the app, put it all together and then sit back.” Pff! clearly I wasn’t in the IT/developing/marketing world. Oh no no no - you have to keep at it- make sure it’s working, make sure you keep adding new content, make sure you keep letting people know it’s out there. But, I’ve realized (ok not the technical part) that that’s part of the beauty of the project - that, very much like the tradition itself it keeps renewing itself and making sure it’s alive because at the end of the day it’s real live human beings that are participating in this tradition.

So, yeah, I’ve been really busy posting on Instagram (@_iconbuilder_), keeping up with adding new content, and making sure I look after the users I have, some of whom bravely post their drawings on the group chat and have the humility to just say, “hey, what do you think, where can I improve?” I mean, it seems simple, but it actually takes quite a lot of courage to just put yourself out there and say, help me, guide me. Big Up to them! Users of the app are not just using a tool, although of course that’s what it is, but they are also participants in something bigger, part of a community of people who are actually working towards the same goal. It’s not an exaggeration at all to say that we are currently living in the Icon Revival. (More of that in a future post.)

Workshops

When it comes to the workshops this year … well I’ll just paste the text from my previous post here for practicality:

In 2026, I will be offering three residential weeklong icon painting workshops at St Joseph’s Prayer Centre in Formby (L37 1PH):

• 7 June to 13 June – Beginner Level
• 28 June to 4 July – Beginner Level
• 6 September to 12 September – Intermediate Level

Each retreat runs from Sunday evening to Saturday morning and includes accommodation, meals, and all necessary materials.

Before opening these places more widely, I will first be contacting a small number of people who have already been in touch and are on a waiting list. After that, booking will be open to everyone.

Each workshop is limited to six participants, in order to preserve a focused, and personal atmosphere of teaching and prayer.

The cost for the beginner workshops will be £950.
The intermediate workshop will be slightly higher, reflecting the more advanced nature of the work, at £1000.

As a small thank-you to those who support the Icon Builder app, paid subscribers who can provide proof of subscription will receive a 10% discount on the workshop fee.

When it comes to the workshops, these tend to function on two levels: they can be first tasters for people who are just entering and exploring the world of iconography, and/or they are a continuation and deepening of those who are already into it, and especially so if they are already in the app and familiar with my teaching. So this is very hands-on and if you ask anyone who has attended one of my workshops you’ll see I can help you achieve things you didn’t know you could - even if you’ve never held a brush before. And at the end of it you take your icon home with you.

A couple of people have signed up and more are enquiring, so if you want to go to the next level, either as a beginner or not, don’t delay too long.

Lastly, in order to make it easier for people to get familiar with the Icon Builder app, as well as the workshops by extension, I have created a mailing list that will drop you a short email every so often that will let you know what the app is all about and how you might find it relates to you and fulfills your needs. This could be “the beginning of a beautiful relation ship.” *wink to anyone who gets that one* Join the mailing list HERE Or scan below:

And of course subscribe to my wonderfully profound reflections on Substack:

That’s it for now, but please also share all of this with friends or people you know who might be interested, tell your priests and people in the parish. Being a part of something this big, that is, the Icon Revival, is very special.

In IC XC

Fr Justin

www.studiosanctus.com