Commissions
Hand-Painted Board Icons
Iconography as a living tradition goes beyond copying images of the past. It requires understanding and living within the visual language of the Church. My approach to iconography, therefore, is not focused on copying old icons, but in understanding them and presenting them for the ‘here and now’ of the Church.
Every one of my icons is an original composition, made in a manner that can place them within the continuum of the visual tradition of the Church.
My preferred medium is egg tempera, which is excellent for board icon painting. When cared for properly, egg tempera can maintain its color properties for centuries. It also allows for very translucent layers of paint, which results in airy and luminous forms. Egg tempera consists of mineral pigments of various colors, applied to the surface of the board with an egg yoke emulsion (egg yoke and white wine) as the bonding agent. Boards are prepared using wood panels, which I then cover in rabbit skin glue to fix a linen cloth or handmade paper. I finish the board by applying many layers of gesso (a mix of white chalk and rabbit skin glue) that are sanded down until the surface is marble-smooth. If requested, I apply 24k gold leaf to icons, most particularly to the halos of the saints. After finishing the painting of the icon, I apply a few coats of varnish to protect the icon for personal veneration.
Icons are priced primarily based on size and complexity, measured by the number of figures portrayed. The following prices are base prices and don’t include gold leaf application, other customization, nor shipping or sales tax.
Starting Prices for 2026
Inches
6 × 9
9 × 12
12 × 16
16 × 20
18 × 24
24 × 36
1 figure
$450
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$2,000
2 figs.
N/A
$800
$1,000
$1,300
$1,600
$2,400
≥3 figs.
N/A
N/A
$1,300
$1,600
$2,000
$2,800
Black-letter Calligraphy
My practice of calligraphy involves primarily black-letter styles, such as Fraktur and Uncial. I use watercolor paper of various sizes which holds the ink well and doesn’t bleed. I apply the ink with pens of various nib sizes and shapes. The most common calligraphy piece is a single color text, of a quote from a saint or a Bible verse.
The pricing of a piece is based on size and number of words, and doesn’t include any additional details like illuminations, gold leaf, shipping or sales tax.
Starting Prices for 2026
≥15 words
N/A
$180
$240
Size (inches)
6 × 9
9 × 12
12 × 16
1-5 words
$40
$60
$80
6-15 words
$80
$120
$160
Just Reach Out
If you’re interested in a commission, even if you’re not sure about all the details, simply send me a message. I would be happy to answer your questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I offer hand-painted board icons of various sizes and degrees of complexity. I use wood boards prepared with gesso, and painted with egg tempera. Additionally, I offer hand-made calligraphy pieces. Finally, I am open to other kinds of projects and experimentation. If you have something unique in mind, just reach out!
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Just send me a message and we can start the conversation. Once we figure out the details of your request (such us the saint or motif, size and gold leaf), I’d send you an invoice by email. I’d request your mailing address for the shipping estimate and tax purposes.
If you’re comfortable with it, I usually ask if there’s any intention you’d want me to pray for while I paint the icon.
After the payment is made, I’d include your project to my backlog and give you an estimation for the delivery date.
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You should expect at least 6 months of wait time starting from when the payment is fulfilled. Depending on my workload, calligraphy pieces could be delivered sooner.
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As the owner of the piece, you can create copies of the artwork only for personal use, not commercial use. As an artist, I retain all the rights to reproduce and/or reprint my artwork. For more details, see the Copyright and Reproduction section in the Terms and Conditions.
If you’re interested in purchasing a commercial license, please do let me know!
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As a Melkite Greek Catholic, I am familiar both with the theological and liturgical tradition of the Latin Church, in which I was raised, and the Eastern Church, which I am happily part of. Generally speaking, I’d have no problem portraying both Catholic and Orthodox saints. I, however, reserve the right to reject a commission for personal reasons.