This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.

Continue your journey into traditional icon painting through the next stage of creating the Mandylion — the Holy Face of Christ.

This is the second part of a complete 6-part course in which the entire icon is created step by step — from the raw wooden panel to the finished and protected image. Each section of the course focuses on a different stage of the process, allowing you to gradually deepen both your practical skills and your understanding of traditional iconography.

In this part of the course, we focus on the technical and structural foundations that prepare the icon for painting. These stages are extremely important because they influence the harmony, proportions, and final character of the image. Rather than rushing directly into painting, we carefully build the structure that will support all later work.

You will learn the principles of drawing theory used in traditional iconography, including composition, balance, proportions, and the construction of the face. We discuss how the drawing serves not only as a technical guide, but also as a way of creating order, clarity, and harmony within the icon.

The course includes both theoretical and practical lessons. You will learn how to properly prepare and prime the icon board, how to transfer the drawing onto the surface, and how to gradually refine the image through several stages of work. Particular attention is given to precision, patience, and understanding the logic behind each step rather than simply copying the process mechanically.

You will also learn how to prepare traditional egg tempera emulsion — one of the key materials used in classical icon painting techniques. The lesson explains both the practical preparation process and the role this medium plays in working with pigments and building color layers.

This part of the course is intended for beginners as well as for students who want to strengthen their understanding of drawing, structure, and preparation in iconography before moving on to the painting stages in the following lessons.

By the end of this section, you will have a prepared and structured foundation for continuing the creation of the Mandylion icon with confidence and greater understanding of the traditional process.