Guardian Angel Icon

Psalm 91:11 For He will command His angels concernng you to guard you in all your ways.

Before Our First Class:

  1. Icons are used to help one to focus on his/her prayers. Take some time to consider for whom you are painting your guardian angel icon. For yourself? Or, for someone else? What would you include in a guardian angel icon that would help someone pray more deeply?
  2. In the bible, do angels have wings?
  3. Please read the following handouts. If too small to read on this webpage, download and open on your computer.

2. Please read the following handouts. If too small to read on this webpage, download and open on your computer.

Here are our weekly procedures. Just know we realize that everyone works at a different pace. So don’t worry about meeting a deadline. We’ll keep meeting until every icon is completed.

WEEK 1 (3/17)

  • Overview of our time together
  • Supplies distributed
  • Applying Gesso
  • HOMEWORK : Complete Gesso Application . Remember to let each coat dry completely before applying another coat of gesso. Aim for at least 4 coats evenly applied without brush strokes showing. If you have extra gesso, apply more coats.

  • Here is the image we will be painting this session. You’ll be given a copy in class to transfer to your wooden panel after gesso has been applied. The image will fit onto a 8 X10″ panel


    Watch this video about alterations that can be made to the pattern
    Watch this video on how to transfer the pattern onto your gessoed wooden panel.

Week 2 (3/24)

  • Apply palm sander to gesso until baby bottom smooth
  • Transfer pattern with carbon paper and pencil (Video on how to do it.)
  • Go over outlines with marker or paint (Borrow a liner brush if you choose to paint outlines.)
  • Paint background any color you like.
  • Paint halo with red or black paint in prep for applying faux gold leafing
  • HOMEWORK: Search the internet for guardian angel wings to see how other artists have painted them.

Week 3 (3/31)

  • Apply gold leaf
  • Draw in wing feathers
  • Paint wings working in three values in this order: dark, medium and lastly highlights.

Week 4 ( 4/7)

  • Continue working on wings

Week 5 (4/14) Valentine’s Day

  • Paint under garment (tunic?) and cumberbund working in three values in this order: dark, medium and lastly highlights.

Week 6 (4/21)

  • Paint outer robe working in three values in this order: dark, medium and lastly highlights.

Week 7 (4/28)

  • Oontinue painting outer robe working in three values in this order: dark, medium and lastly highlights.

Week 8 (5/5) Cinco De Mayo

  • Paint face, hands and objects
  • Paint hair
  • Sign your icon on back.
    This icon was written by ______ 2026
    optional: add a verse or prayer on the back

At this point, we’ll continue to meet until everyone has a finished icon.

EVERYONE must participate in an artshow. We’ll display our icons on a Sunday and Rev. Jeff will bless them. Traditionally, icons are not put on display until they are blessed.