![]() You get out of the way to serve the Mysteries. In traditional Byzantine iconography, there is little room for personal expression, which is not a bad thing–it’s a different type of energy that works through prayer and fasting. Unlike the way an artist works, the iconographer doesn’t approach an icon with the attitude of “today I feel like painting the outer robe of the Theotokos* (The Blessed Mother, literally ‘God-Bearer’) hyacinth purple…maybe I’ll give her a nice smile, or paint her on a piano lid.” If you don’t get out of the way, you end with a holy image, not a real icon with sacramental presence. ![]() In Orthodox theology and tradition, icons are the Gospels ‘written’ in paint. When I paint an icon, I work as a scribe, which is to say I follow the canons and traditions of Orthodoxy, not my own muse. How do you experience the connection between spirituality and creativity? My other work is mixed media and acrylics. “For the invisible things of God since the creation of the world are made visible through images.” Heather took some time to respond to my questions and share some of her creative wisdom and beautiful sacred images with us: She has also offered icon writing ateliers in the past which I hope next time I might be able to participate in as I would love to learn the basics of this amazing art and prayer form. Placid Priory and even though she only lives an hour away I haven’t had the chance to meet her in person yet, even though she has graciously extended the invitation to me to visit her art studio. Heather Williams is an artist in Olympia, WA who is an iconographer in the Orthodox tradition. We connected with each other by email several months ago through St. Watershed Moments in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.Virtual Celtic Pilgrimage: The Wisdom of Irish Saints Kevin, Ita, and Enda.Virtual Celtic Pilgrimage: The Wisdom of the Irish Saints Brigid, Ciaran, & Gobnait.Sacred Rhythms of Sky, Sun, Sea & Stone.Lectio Divina: The Sacred Art of Reading the World.Journey with the Desert Mothers and Fathers.Eyes of the Heart: Photography as Contemplative Practice. ![]()
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