Course description
The course is full, registrations are being taken for waitlist spots.
Our inner world often craves expression and to be seen. In this retreat-like course, we will intuitively paint our soul's landscape, bringing the invisible into visibility. By painting what is difficult to describe in words, or what we are not aware of, we often increase understanding and acceptance towards life, other people, and ourselves. During the course, it is also possible to get acquainted with Orthodoxy. We will walk in the midsummer nature, explore the spiritual treasures of the church in Valamo's churches and museum. In our works, we will draw inspiration from the rich spiritual tradition of the Orthodox Church, such as its holy people and church year festivals. During the course, we will together perform a lay service in honor of creation. In this course, we will paint with watercolors using the wet-on-wet technique, with non-toxic, liquid watercolor paints whose brilliant pigment brings joy to painting. No prior painting experience is required; guidance on the technique will be provided during the course. Those with more painting experience are welcome to deepen their skills. Material fee 50 €/participant. Course instruction begins on 16.6.; accommodation for the previous night is included in the course price; any meals on 15.6. will be paid at Restaurant Trapesa at normal prices. Instructor: painter Susanna Maria Kivistö. Introduction to church life by Juha Riikonen, teacher at Valamo Folk High School (ThD).
ePassi can be used for payment of this course.
Course program
PROGRAM
Accommodation on Monday 15.6. afternoon is included in the course price. Any meals will be paid at Restaurant Trapesa at normal prices.
The course material fee of 50 € is paid to the instructor on-site in cash or via MobilePay.
Tuesday 16.6.
6:00 AM Midnight and Morning Service. Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.
7:30 AM- Breakfast
9:00 AM Art retreat opening and getting acquainted.
Introduction to materials and intuitive painting.
Wet-on-wet - watercolor technique demonstration.
10:30 AM Introduction to the monastery's churches. Juha Riikonen.
12:00 PM Prayer service.
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Starting the painting process.
Primary colors, secondary colors, and color mixing.
Happiness, the meaning of silence in the painting process and surrendering to it,
freeing oneself from performance.
Free painting and personal guidance.
3:00 PM Break. Opportunity for coffee/tea at own expense.
3:30 PM Free painting in silence and personal guidance.
6:00 PM Ninth Hour, Vespers, and Small Compline. Evening prayers.
7:30 PM Supper
Wednesday 17.6.
6:00 AM Midnight and Morning Service. First Hour.
7:30 AM- Breakfast
9:00 AM Drawing a line as a bridge to silence.
Painting from silence. Listening to internal impulses.
Free painting and personal guidance.
11:00 AM Visit to the monastery museum. Juha Riikonen.
12:00 PM Prayer service.
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Shaping form, strengthening inner vision. Free painting and personal guidance.
3:00 PM Break. Opportunity for coffee/tea at own expense.
3:30 PM Free painting in silence and personal guidance.
6:00 PM Ninth Hour, Hour and Vespers. Small Compline. Evening prayers.
7:30 PM Supper
Thursday 18.6.
6:00 AM. Midnight and Morning Service. Liturgy.
7:30 AM- Breakfast
9:00 AM Inner and outer rhythm, creating harmony. The importance of choosing a painting format. Free painting and personal guidance.
11:00 AM What is THE ORTHODOX WAY OF LIFE? JR.
12:00 PM Prayer service.
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Colors and emotion, inner color and how colors affect us. Free painting and personal guidance.
3:00 PM Break.
3:30 PM Free painting in silence and personal guidance.
6:00 PM Ninth Hour. Vespers. Small Compline. Evening prayers.
7:30 PM Supper
Friday 19.6.
6:00 AM Midnight and Morning Service. First Hour.
7:30 AM- Breakfast
9:00 AM Light and shadow in painting and the painting process. Security and trust in shadow, the miracle of light. Free painting and personal guidance.
11:00 AM Saints and holiness in the Orthodox tradition. JR.
12:00 PM Prayer service.
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Common prayer service in honor of creation.
3:30 PM Break
4:00 PM Free painting in silence and personal guidance.
6:00 PM Ninth Hour, Vespers. Small Compline and Three Canons. Old Church.
7:30 PM Supper.
Saturday 20.6.
6:00 AM Midnight and Morning Service. Liturgy. Old Church.
7:30 AM- Breakfast
9:00 AM Examining the painting and making choices in the painting process. Clarifying the essence of the painting. Free painting and personal guidance.
11:00 AM Who was John the Baptist? JR.
12:00 PM Prayer service to all saints of Valamo.
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Bringing the image surface to life as a whole. Free painting and personal guidance.
3:00 PM Break
3:30 PM Free painting in silence and personal guidance.
6:00 PM Vigil.
7:30 PM Supper
Sunday 21.6.
(7:30 AM- Breakfast)
9:00 AM Third Hour. Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. Panagia.
10:30 AM Exhibition of works and final discussion.
11:30 AM Farewell lunch
