Ten years ago when Sharon typed, "painting for God", into her computer's search engine; a journey began that would lead her to dedicate her life to icon-painting. Her previous studies, work as a scenic painter in the theatre and practice in meditation, as well as the Jewish tradition of her birth; all combine to inform her current practice. Sharon's chosen specialism is Russian Byzantine style iconography.  

 

Since 2014 Sharon followed a self-directed program of study with the guidance of Elena Antonova and Vladislav Andrejev. She has been gently guided over ten years by these tutors. The Prosopon School of Iconology inspires Sharon to pursue her icon painting practice. Through questions, personal reading of theological texts, and embodying the foundations of the 22 steps that the Prosopon School offers, Sharon has deepened her practice and gained independence in applying these processes.  

In addition to her studies with the Prosopon School, Sharon took courses at the King's School of Traditional Arts. Subjects chosen were Sacred Geometry with Tom Bree and The Alchemy of Colour with David Cranswick. For several years Sharon took weekly classes with London Drawing, who offer life-drawing classes. All this exploration of the wider creative process contributed to her development as an Iconographer. Sharon's studies have taken her across Europe: Greece, Belgium, Holland, Finland and beyond to Macedonia and Israel as well as across the USA.  

An Iconographer does not traditionally sign their work like a secular artist. Yet every icon has the "signature" of the presence of the Iconographer embedded on the board. Every stroke of the brush is a word of prayer to God. The task of the icon writer is to bring the Light of God into being on the board strongly and beautifully enough so that the person who contemplates the icon is able to see beyond the hand of the Iconographer, "Sharon", to the uncreated Light that fills all things. It is this "impossible" task which motivates Sharon's tutoring and icon painting.  

Teaching represents the next turn on the spiral path of icon painting - Sharon has begun to develop her own style of presenting the principles of Icon painting guided by the 21 steps that Vladislav Andrejev has developed through his teaching career of 35 years in the USA. Those of any faith, or none, with no artistic background or training, can come to the classes she offers. Through engagement with the materials of clay, gold, pigments from earth, and semi-precious stones, combined in the medium in egg tempera, all can encounter themselves on the board and deepen their connection with the More Than, the Other, God.  

It is inspiring to see how someone with no painting experience can be guided to write an icon, all the more powerful for its imperfections, its naive quality and the sheer effort required to paint it. If a student falls in love with the practice and continues their practice, the repetition of the process builds craft skills surprisingly quickly - the satisfaction for Sharon as a tutor comes less from seeing the craft skills of painting improve, though that is exciting, but from watching the students' divine nature unfurl little by little through their face-to-face encounter with God on the icon board.  

 

Sharon continues to be mentored by senior faculty of The Prosopon School of Iconology; her work can be seen in the latest School catalogue. Sharon shows her work locally where she also offers instruction in icon painting following pedagogical principles and painting technique of the Prosopon School. These are held at her East Sussex, UK studio.  

 

Instagram: @iconsthroughsharon
Email: prosoponsussex@gmail.com