January 22 – 26, 2026

A unique 5-day immersion class with Mihai Coman held at Eikonourgia Studio, Athens

NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION 

Step into the tradition of church wall painting in this rare 5-day immersion into the art of Buon Fresco, guided by visiting artist and master iconographer Mihai Coman of Romania. This hands-on course takes place at Kordis’s Eikonourgia Studio in the heart of Athens and offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the ancient art of true fresco as a way to build a deeper understanding of iconography.

About Buon Fresco
Buon Fresco—Italian for “true fresco”—is one of the oldest and most enduring techniques of mural painting. Pigments are applied directly onto freshly laid wet lime plaster, bonding the color permanently into the wall as it dries. This technique, used in Byzantine churches for centuries, requires precision, speed, and a deep understanding of both materials and iconographic tradition.

What the Course Covers:

• Fresco Painting as Liturgy: Explore how iconographic themes interact with architectural form, understanding the wall painting as a living, organic element of the temple—a visual liturgy in stone and color.
• Various Projects: Paint both the face of Christ Pantocrator and another subject using the Buon Fresco method under the expert guidance of Mihai Coman.
• Technical Studies: Engage in focused drawing with compositional planning, and enter into the specific painting techniques.
• Materials & Techniques: Learn the properties of lime, pigments, and tools, and understand how ancient practices inform contemporary sacred art.

• A Look at Contemporary Fresco: A chance to see some examples of Romanian contemporary wall painting work and discuss current methods through Mihai’s special presentation.

 

Daily Schedule: 
Participants will receive 5–6 hours of instruction and workshop time daily in both large-scale drawing and Buon Fresco painting, along with additional studio time.

 

Who Should Attend:
This course is best suited for intermediate to advanced iconographers or artists with prior experience in icon drawing and painting who are eager to deepen their practice and work on a larger scale.  It is open to students outside the Certificate Program.

This can count towards one residency for Certificate or SACRED SPACE students (the new Church Wall-Painting Program).

Note: It is not possible to take the finished product home with you, but we will have the opportunity to make a small demo piece as a souvenir of the creative experience.

Details:

• Limited to 16 participants
• All materials provided (including pigments, lime, brushes, and fresco mediums)
• Tuition: 700 EURO to include all materials
• Learn more about instructor Mihai Coman below
• OPTIONAL ADD-ON for a trip to Kaesariane Monastery on January 21st (info coming)

TO REGISTER:

Registration NOW OPEN.  Please make your payment through the portal above.

Special Discounts:

If a student wishes to combine both the BUON FRESCO and the LARGE-SCALE DRAWING — students can use the code “FRESCODRAW” for a 50EUR discount when paying for the Fresco Class in Full (the Fresco Class must be in the shopping cart).

If a student wishes to combine both the BUON FRESCO and the 10-DAY DRAWING & PAINTING RESIDENCY — students can use the code “FRESCONOW” for a 100EUR discount when paying for the Fresco Class in Full (the Fresco class must be in the shopping cart).

ABOUT INSTRUCTOR MIHAI COMAN 

Church Painting Techniques, Romanian Seminar

Mihai Coman was born in Romania in 1979.  He is a Lecturer, teaching Traditional Painting Techniques in the Faculty of Orthodox Theology Justinian the Patriarch’ s Department of Sacred Art, University of Bucharest. He completed his studies in the Department of Conservation and Restoration of Art Works, at Nicolae Grigorescu University of Fine Arts (Romania). He gained an MA in Pastoral and Liturgical Life, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology Justinian the Patriarch (Romania), and a PhD in Byzantine Iconography, from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece).  It was during that time that he studied with Dr. George Kordis.

As an Icon and mural painter, Mihai Coman is attested by the Religious Painting Committee of the Romanian Patriarchy; member of UAP – The Romanian Artists Union; member of Eikona group – icon painters teaching in European universities.

Mihai’s numerous mural works include: interior paintings of St. Gregory Palamas Church, Polytechnic University Campus Bucharest Romania (in fresco technique); interior paintings of the main church, Monastery of Prophet Elijah in Mures district, Romania (in fresco technique). His portable icon works are in churches and private collections in Romania and internationally.

 

Any further questions about this residency can be addressed to Director Keri Wiederspahn at info.writingthelight@gmail.com.