Аrtists – iconographers, graduates of the Latvian Christian Academy and their
teachers have joined together forming the Iconographers Society and Icon
painting workshop Eleusa.
Together we focus on acknowledging a unique role of icons in the art of the
Orthodox church and the world cultural heritage.
Creative work of an iconographer bears strictly ecclesiastical character. This
way creativity becomes a service.
Icons, which history can be measured in thousands of years, continue to live in
modern world, built on a strong foundation laid by the Orthodox church.
Priest Aleksander Shabelnik
Pastor of the Riga Transfiguration Church, icon painter.
The modern icon painters most important task is to give a contemporary interpretation
of the many thousand - year - old orthodox tradition.
Natalija Stratanovich
I grew up in orthodox christian family surrounded by artists.
Finished Institute of Cinema and Television in St.Peterburg, and college of Music. I
worked as director of film, in television. I have two adult sons.
I started to involve in icon painting at a mature age, studying in Latvian Christian
academy faculty of icon painting. Graduated in 2010.
I am writing icons for parishes, churches and for a participation in the projects
organised by Icon painters in Latvia.
Kaspar Shmidhen
Since my childhood I have loved to draw, that was my favorite subject in school. In
my youth I got experience in drawing, ceramics, painting and composition wail my
studies in Art school of Jurmala.
After graduating from high school in 2005 happened a coincidence and I started to
study in Latvian Christian Academy.
I gained invaluable experience in painting, drawing, graphics and composition. The
biggest discovery of course was the icon, had never been in contact with it.
Step by step, this Orthodox sacred art caught my interest, then I started to work
constantly gaining personal experience, I was consulted by the professors from
Christian Academy.
In 2009 I received a Вachelor's degree from the Academy, since then - learning
Мaster. I am very glad that I have icon in my life.
Evija Rudzite
I started to love Icon in Latvian Christian Academy and since then icon – is the way I
think, my view and path of the life.
After my graduation in 2005 I still keep painting icons, participate in exhibitions and
open the world of icons to myself and to others through my creativity (art).
Nina Skangale – Zacheste
1994 – Technical University of Riga, faculty of architecture, degree in architecture.
1999 - Theological College of Radom in Poland, gaining the right to teach Christian
education at the basic level as a religion teacher pre-school and primary school.
2009 - Pontifical Lateran University branch of the Riga Higher Institute of Religious
Sciences with a Bachelor degree as ethics, philosophy and Christian doctrine teacher.
2011 - Sciences Humanities Academic Master's degree in Theology and Religious
Science in Latvian Christian Academy as artist - icon painter and Master of Theology
at the same time.
Working as icon painter, teaching iconography for adults and is a teacher of religion
for children.
Anna Zandberga-Shenke
I was born in 1973 in Riga and I live and work here. I consciously walked away from
the world of art for the big part of may life and worked 8-hour workday in an office.
The turning point happenned after the birth of my first son, when I was about to enter
the Latvia Arts Academy, Graphic’s department, but because of various unbelievable
situations in 2008 I started my studies in the Latvia Christian Academy. This my road
towards the God started.
My main job is connected with the painting of the Orthodox Church icons. Painting
icons, I work in an old iconography technique on wood planks using an egg tempera
and 22-24 carats non-fixed gold leaves. I also use graphic techniques – linocut and
colography. Also paintings made on a canvas using palms and fingers and also
tradicional oil paintings.
Anna Kuznecova
My first education is – Modern Languages and Literature
(Denis Diderot University, Paris 7, Jussieu, Paris, France)
2009 – I graduated Latvian Christian Academy, faculty of icon painting.
Later, started my studies of Master degree, specifically Theology, but temporarily
interrupted by the birth of a second son.
I am living and working in Riga, painting icons for churches and parishes.
Icon is teaching silence, fulfilled with content. There is standing powerful strength
behind the icon. Strength of Love. Love transforms.
Agnese Rolava
2011 – I graduated Latvian Christian Academy, faculty of icon painting.
2013 – I graduated of Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy,
faculty of Art pedagogy.
2013 - Latvian Academy of Art, Restavration departement.
The time that I devote for writing icons, is the most expedient and abounding time, 12
hours of intense work to become an instant.
Ance Gricmane
I learned Icon painting in Latvian Christian academy (2006-2010), obtained Bachelor
degree in Arts, under supervision of orthodox priest A.Shabelniks, icon painter
G.Mironovs).
2013 obtained Master degree in Arts, under prof.A.Naumovs supervision. Currantly
writing PhD in Art history at the art Academy of Latvia, University of Tartu (Estonia)
For me Icon is a way of life which I have started to learn and hope to continue this
journey through life!
Since my base in painting comes from Byzantine art, I chose to make my work of
master degree in painting, but in country where Icon appeared first – in Greece. As a
ERASMUS student I was studying painting in Aristotle University in Thessaloniki,
Greece.
Alexey Koshkin
2016 - Latvian academy of Arts, Graphic art department, MA
2014 Orthodox academy of Crete, short course on Greek iconography (Erasmus)
2012 - 2016 Latvian Christian academy, Bible art department, BA
"What is hell? I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love."
Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
Kate Ane
Each icon is a joy and a challenge at the same time. Joy, because brings me closer to
Prototype and challenge, because again and again discovers something new in
process of work. I had a great opportunity to learn the basics of icon painting with
different masters of both floating and dry technique.
I have participated in an exchange program in Greece. Currently I am working on my
diploma work at Latvian Christian Academy to get a Bachelor of Arts.
Karina Tambovska
Most of my life I've been painting and drawing. In 2011, I started studying
Iconography at the Latvian Christian Academy in the church art faculty.
In 2015, I graduated with a Bachelor degree in Art.
In 2016, I participated in Erasmus student exchange iconography course that took
place in the island of Crete, at the Orthodox Academy of Crete.
To improve and deepen my knowledge and skills in Iconography, I'm constantly
taking lessons from icon drawing professionals.
To me, the main value of the icon is prayer - communion with God.