![]() ![]() ![]() He is blessed by Bishop Anthony of Toledo as an officially sanctioned iconographer for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. He uses the finest materials available: 23k gold leaf, traditional egg tempera and mineral pigments on gessoed birch panels. Holy icons become a holy presence in the Church by visually presenting the salvific events from the life of Christ, as well as making present the “great cloud of witnesses.”īrian Matthew Whirledge paints traditional Byzantine icons and wall paintings for churches and private homes. If the Church building is the body, then iconography is its soul. Harmony of color, proportion, and style leads to a beauty that encourages encountering Christ and His saints in prayer. Working solidly within the tradition, he takes the best which historical icons have to offer, and synthesizes the best fit for the patron and context in which the icon will be placed. Each icon breathes the vibrant life and creativity of the Holy Spirit, so every icon should be fresh and new, rather than a static copy. The clothing falls on the figure in vibrant, geometric highlights.īrian paints within the tradition of the church and follows traditional depictions, colors, and compositions, but he does not simply copy old icons line-for-line. The postures and composition are balanced and hieratic, yet graceful curves and subtle asymmetry suggest motion. Features are abstracted, clothing is geometrized, and the landscapes are enlivened to reveal a spiritual vision of reality. The light in icons is not Renaissance chiaroscuro, but rather the uncreated light of Christ, shining forth from within. They do not depict the world outside, but the heavenly world within. They are not only windows to heaven, but also doors, inviting viewers to enter. Icons overflow with heavenly vision, becoming a palpable presence. The dancing, reflective light interacts with the viewer unlike any other material. Radiant and never tarnishing, 23-karat gold leaf brings heaven into the icon. Creation itself is transfigured into the likeness of the Creator and his Saints, bringing together the three kingdoms: vegetable (wood panel), animal (egg), and mineral (pigments). Silently, an icon bears tangible witness to the incarnation of God and declares that creation is essentially good, sanctified by the Creator’s incarnate presence in His world. Icons are a proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not in words, but in lines, shapes, and colors. Brian continues this living, growing tradition. The art of icon-painting originated in antiquity, was perfected through the centuries, and has been passed from master to student until today. As a visual artist and Orthodox Christian, Brian found painting icons in the traditional Byzantine style has been an organic way to express his Christian faith visually. After converting to the Orthodox Christian faith in college, Brian began to learn to paint icons. The beauty of the icons contributed a great deal in his desire to join the Church. It was in Jerusalem, during a family trip to the Holy Land, that he first experienced Orthodox churches and their iconography. To ensure these icons will last generations, Brian uses only the finest materials and traditional methods: egg tempera with mineral pigments and gold on gessoed wood panels. Pursuing the visual arts his entire life, he has painted hundreds of traditional Orthodox Christian icons for private and church commissions since 2007. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Goshen, Indiana. Brian is an ordained reader, and serves as cantor and choir director at St. He paints icons with the blessing of Bishop Anthony of Toledo and the Midwest, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Paul, Epistle to the Colossiansīrian Matthew Whirledge lives in Goshen, Indiana, with his wife, Rebekah, and their son George. ![]() ![]() “Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” - St. ![]()
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