Sacred Art Workshops
Our mission is to teach traditional approaches to the sacred arts, to offer creative opportunities for experiencing the beauty of the Church, and to invite all to use art as an instrument in personal growth and healing.
Each workshop is taught by a leader in the world of Sacred Art, bringing premium, hands-on instruction to students of all skill levels. The art studio was originally built by the Enders family as a place for them to paint and was temporarily used as a chapel by the Emmundites, making it uniquely equipped for sacred art.
In addition to the beauty of the island, students will explore the role of art in prayer and catechesis and have daily opportunities for Holy Mass and Adoration.
Introduction to the Art of Calligraphy
With Caroline Joy Adams
Calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting, and is a very calming, enjoyable, almost meditative activity. It also has many practical uses, so come join us and learn some basic calligraphic techniques. You will get a quick overview of three popular calligraphic hands—Uncial, Italic, and Blackletter -- and you’ll have fun creating some beautiful bookmarks, […]
Introduction to the Art of Calligraphy- Four Week Series
With Caroline Joy Adams
Calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting, and is a very calming, enjoyable, almost meditative activity. It also has many practical uses, so come join us and learn some basic calligraphic techniques. You will get a quick overview of three popular calligraphic hands—Uncial, Italic, and Blackletter -- and you’ll have fun creating some beautiful bookmarks, […]
Introduction to the Art of Calligraphy- April 25
With Caroline Joy Adams
Week # 1 We will focus on the beautiful Uncial hand (also known as Celtic) which is the lettering style in which the famous Book of Kells was rendered long ago, and can be used for many applications, and is often associated with artistic and calligraphic traditions from Ireland.
Introduction to the Art of Calligraphy- May 2
With Caroline Joy Adams
Week # 2 We will work on the graceful and elegant Italic hand, which can be used for a great variety of purposes, from addressing envelopes, creating place cards, or rendering quotes or scripture verses, and much more.
Introduction to the Art of Calligraphy- May 9
With Caroline Joy Adams
Week # 3 We will continue practice with the Italic hand, and work on the Roman Capitals, and their variations, that accompany the lower case letters.
Faith and War Lecture Series: The Great War
With Dr. Yvonne R. Masakowski
Introduction to the Art of Calligraphy- May 16
With Caroline Joy Adams
Week # 4 We will work on a version of the Blackletter, or Gothic hand (the one that the elegant typeface of the Gutenberg Bible is based on) and is useful for a variety of modern purposes, as well.
Eucharistic Altar Niche Painting Workshop
With Ann Schmalstieg- Barrett
This oil painting workshop will explore devotion to the Eucharist as expressed through the 17th century Altar Niche paintings. Through the course of the week, artists will be guided in creating a master copy of one of these works (ex. “Altar Niche with Symbols of the Eucharist with Flowers and Fruit” by Kessel), learning concepts […]
Essentials of Iconography : Painting the face of the Apostle Saint Peter
With Marek Czarnecki
Join us for an Iconography workshop with one of the country’s most talented Iconographers. Throughout this workshop Marek guides you through the foundations for writing an icon. Understanding that simplicity can be very deep but not always easy, through this workshop you will discover and deepen your knowledge of painting an icon using a historical […]
Painting on Stained Glass: A Sacred Art Workshop
With Fabio Pizzol
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME; Opening Reception at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center
Join us on May 31, from 5 PM to 8 PM, for the opening reception of the exhibit Do This In Memory of Me. A stunning art exhibit over a year in the making. With over 300 artists submitting more than 650 of their finest art pieces. One hundred and nine of these works of […]
St Edmund's 4th Annual Pipes & Drums Flag Day Tattoo
Draped in Majesty: Rendering Satin, Velvet, and Brocade in Oils
With Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs
Faith and War Lecture Series: WWII
With Dr. Yvonne R. Masakowski
The Faith and War lecture series will explore the intersection of faith and war through the lens of the art, music, literature, and poetry which distinguish each war era and have influenced the lives of soldiers, their families, their societies – and our world today. The interplay of faith and war is a driver in […]
Finding Recovery Through Art
With Sue Ellen Landwehr
Using a variety of mixed media techniques such as collage, watercolor, and pen and ink, participants will create a 12 step art journal, combining the benefits of art and the exploration of their recovery through the 12 step journey. Using guided techniques including short meditations and writing prompts in a relaxing and supportive atmosphere, participants […]
Saint Francis in the Desert: A Sacred Art Workshop
With James Patrick Reid
How does a painting manifest divine beauty? In this workshop, we will draw and paint a series of studies from Giovanni Bellini's masterpiece "Saint Francis in the Desert," guided by lectures and demonstrations investigating the qualities of line, shape, color, light, form, and composition, the theological dimension of these qualities, and their role in the […]
Anatomy of the Crucifixion
With Robert Armetta
For centuries artists have studied and marveled at the anatomy of Christ crucified for its ability to show the body and the muscles employed as a way to reveal the passion and sacrifice. This 10 session course, Anatomy of the Crucifixion, focuses on the anatomy of the Corpus of Christ crucified is presented exclusively at […]
Relief of The Holy Family
With Amber Knorr
Students will be painting a relief of The Holy Family. This course will teach students the techniques of 17th-century Spanish polychrome sculpture. This technique can achieve remarkable realism. Students will learn how to gild and paint provided sculptures using egg tempera painted on top of a previously gilded surface. Students will learn how to gild […]
Plein Air Painting Workshop
With Dan DeLouise
Join us for a day of painting and instruction on the beautiful grounds of Enders Island! Choose from the fabulous gardens, seascapes and architecture for your piece. Starting the day with a demonstration, we will evaluate how to develop a good composition, painting applications, the block-in, all the way to your finished work. Our talented […]
Panel Preparation and Gesso making for Egg Tempera and Icon Painters
With Marek Czarnecki
Egg tempera must be painted onto a stiff, inflexible panel, coated with an absorbent primer called “gesso”. In a one-day workshop, iconographer and instructor Marek Czarnecki will teach students the process of making true artists’ gesso with rabbit skin glue, chalk and marble dust. There will be an examination of the historical types of panels […]
Essentials of Iconography 2024 : Painting the face of the Apostle Saint Paul
With Marek Czarnecki
Join us for an Iconography workshop with one of the country’s most talented Iconographers. Throughout this workshop Marek guides you through the foundations for writing an icon. Understanding that simplicity can be very deep but not always easy, through this workshop you will discover and deepen your knowledge of painting an icon using a historical […]
Fauna and Flora: Signs and Symbols of Plants and Animals in Christian Art
With Richard Berger
The role of animals and flowers found in sacred scripture, especially in Catholic art, is prevalent, from their creation in Genesis to the donkey who bore the unborn Christ Child to Bethlehem to the rooster on Good Friday. Join us at the Sacred Art Institute of Saint Edmund’s Retreat for this 10-session course of animal […]
Plein Air Painting Workshop
With Dan DeLouise
Join us for a day of painting and instruction on the beautiful grounds of Enders Island! Choose from the fabulous gardens, seascapes and architecture for your piece. Starting the day with a demonstration, we will evaluate how to develop a good composition, painting applications, the block-in, all the way to your finished work. Our talented […]
The Art of Relief Composition
With George Nista
Writing Life’s Spiritual Lessons
With Sarah Cortez
Each person of Faith encounters many steps along the pilgrim road toward God. We often wish to share these stories with others. How do we find the right words? How do we put our hard-earned wisdom on the page so that it resonates with others? Our time together will teach you how to craft stories […]
The Cathedral Builder's Art: An Introduction to Traditional Stone Carving
With Morgan Dummitt
The working of stone has been interwoven with Sacred Art from the earliest days of Christianity, from the building of churches and places of worship to ornamentation and sculpture. This course will introduce students to the art of carving stone by hand. In five days each student will design and complete a decorative limestone carving. Students […]
Dynamic Multi-Figural Composition
With George and Polly Capps
In this course, we will explore the principles necessary to create visually compelling original artwork involving multiple figures in motion. Taking inspiration from the breathtaking drama and monumental scope of the Counter-Reformation masters, the curriculum will break down the steps involved in producing these time-tested masterpieces of Western Christian culture and equip students to tackle […]
Calligraphic Card and Gift Making
With Caroline Joy Adams
Calligraphy is the art and craft of beautiful handwriting and is a perfect way to create some handmade Christmas gifts for your loved ones. So come join us and learn some basic calligraphic techniques. You will get a quick overview of three popular calligraphic hands—Italic, Uncial, and Blackletter- and have fun creating some beautiful bookmarks, […]
Finding Recovery Through Art
With Sue Ellen Landwehr
Using a variety of mixed media techniques such as collage, watercolor, and pen and ink, participants will create a 12 step art journal, combining the benefits of art and the exploration of their recovery through the 12 step journey. Using guided techniques including short meditations and writing prompts in a relaxing and supportive atmosphere, participants […]
Memento Mori
With Ann Schmalstieg- Barrett
This week-long workshop's studio time lasts five consecutive days. Check in begins Sunday night at 4:30. Dinner is served at 5:30 pm for students and instructors. Dinner is followed by a workshop introduction and conference, which ends at 9:00 pm. Hands-on instruction begins early Monday morning. The entire workshop ends Friday at 1 PM. Workshop […]
The Painted Altarpiece
With James Langley
SoulCollage
With Sue Ellen Landwehr
SoulCollage® can assist in the journey towards a more felt connection with God. Many in traditional religious settings long for this connection but need more tools. SoulCollage® is an accessible, doable practice that can open up a wellspring of feeling, insight, and connection to the Divine. Many themes have been explored with SoulCollage including […]
Finding Recovery Through Art
With Sue Ellen Landwehr
Pysanky Workshop
With Father Paul Luniw
Weeklong Sacred Art
This week-long workshop's studio time lasts five consecutive days and begins Sunday night at 5:30 pm with a dinner for students and instructors. Dinner is followed by a workshop introduction and conference which ends at 9:00 pm. Hands-on instruction begins early Monday morning. The entire workshop ends Friday at 1 PM. Commuter: Workshop + […]
Finding Recovery Through Art
With Sue Ellen Landwehr