About
A pivotal encounter
My path
Having always been interested in art and drawing, and following studies in history and a career as a primary school teacher, I initially trained in illustration and graphic design before discovering Christian iconography in 2024 during an introductory workshop.
It was a pivotal encounter.
Since then, I have continued to learn and practise this art form, driven by a desire to deepen its artistic, traditional and spiritual dimensions.
I have followed several workshops in the Netherlands with the iconographers Piet van der Ploeg in Noordwijk and Martin Mandaliev in The Hague, with whom I continue to study. Other workshops have shown me that even though iconography is a highly codified art, each iconographer has their own style and their own way of approaching the writing of an icon. I followed a workshop with the iconographer Jacques Bihin on the island of Lérins, and another with Véronique Vié in Versailles.
“Traditions need to be continued to be kept alive.”Stéphanie
My approach
Love and prayer
I write my icons following traditional methods: egg tempera on wooden panels prepared with gesso, and gold leaf. Within the rules of the tradition, I try to bring something of my own to each icon, while keeping its traditional character. And I put love and prayer into every one of them.
I find my inspiration in museums, in books and also online. I was deeply impressed by the icons of Véronique Vié, whose work is elegant, very fine and precise. I also love the icons of Sister Marie-Paul Farran, and the art of Bradi Barth.
Some of my icons are chosen; others, like my first, the Archangel Gabriel, seem to choose me. Many are written for someone: my parents, my niece and goddaughter. Each one begins with that person.
