Sign up For Free Monthly Icon Blogs! 
The nice thing about writing icons is that whether it is “January Freeze” or “January Thaw”, you can usually manage things to be able to write icons for a few hours a day!
My new “Christ” icon study has accompanied my prayers over the last two weeks in the area of inner healing. Particularly the idea that Christ came to FORGIVE us of our sins. That call for us also to forgive has been part of the prayer journey for this icon. I really love it! It’s almost finished now.
“The degree to which art has a liturgical quality is in direct ratio to the spiritual freedom of the artist.” from The Meaning of Icons by Leonid Ouspensky
I think that making twenty first century icons has to incorporate the Traditions of the Church as well as spiritual freedom. Andrey Rublev in the Fifteenth Century being able to occupy that place of Spiritual freedom, training, and artistic skill points toward what we aspire to today. 
The icon class I teach in New York is a spiritual and artistic container for the students and myself to grow in relationship to each other, God, and the icons. It’s an honor to be able to serve such a courageous group of people.
The Art Center in Troy, New York is hosting a student/faculty exhibition of our icons later this month. Here’s the description and you are invited!
Contemporary Icon
January 31 – March 2, 2014 | Faculty Student Gallery
Reception: Friday, January 31, 5-9PM at Troy Night Out | Artist Demonstration at 6:30PM
Master iconographer and faculty member, Christine Simoneau Hales will exhibit her icon paintings along with selected pieces from her past students. Icon writing is a traditional method of painting that dates back to the ancient Byzantine era of using egg tempera, rare natural pigments and gold leaf gilding to create beautiful works of art. Hales takes the step-by-step method of classical painting and infuses it with contemporary inspirations all while keeping with the spiritual subjects found in these works on panel.
I came across the website that offers short introductory art and business classes that looks very good. Here’s the link: Skillshare
Also a link for icon boards that I use and like: St. John’s Workshop.
One last quote from Ouspensky and The Meaning of Icons book to leave you with:
“For a true iconographer, creation is the way of asceticism and prayer, that is, essentially, a monastic way.”
TO see a gallery of my completed icons visit my website, New Christian Icons.
Blessings,
Christine Simoneau Hales
American Association of Iconographers 