5-Day Buon Fresco Painting with Mihai Coman

January 22 – 26, 2026

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

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.  

Students will also have the opportunity to tour the famous Daphni Byzantine Monastery outside of Athens in advance of the workshop on January 21st as an optional add-on (additional details provided upon registration).

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: TBA
• Learn more about instructor Mihai Coman HERE

TO REGISTER:

Pre-Registration Open

Please fill out the basic form HERE and we will automatically place you on the priority interested list. You will then be notified with the full information as well as be given the first option to proceed to registration before it is announced to the public (in August 2025).

Any questions can be discussed by contacting Keri at info.writingthelight@gmail.com.