Original icon design by Kara Gillette, 2026
St. Francis of Assisi
Sept. 28 - Oct. 3, 2026
One-week Online Workshop (6 days)
Monday-Saturday
9am - 4pm Mountain Time
(Saturday - 9am-12pm)
$400 + shipping - Standard Kit
Standard Kit includes a prepared 8"x12" arched icon panel, gold leaf and printed instructions. See more details below.
Registration Deadline is September 22nd
***Registration deadlines are for those wishing to participate live with me Registering early helps us plan and ensure you are able to get your supply package on time. Please be aware that shipping requires a MINIMUM of 3-4 business days to ensure delivery. Student may register for kits as long as supplies last.
Workshop Details
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6 sessions conducted live on Zoom (30+ hours of instruction).
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Step-by-step instruction will guide every part of the icon writing process.
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Daily morning prayer, curated for this icon, will enrich the spiritual experience.
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Supply package will be mailed 1-2 weeks in advance of the retreat via USPS Priority Mail.
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Supply package includes a prepared arched icon panel (8x12), gold leaf & instructional packet.
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Each session is recorded and made available immediately after class.
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Access to recordings, progression photos and other resources will be housed on Google Classroom. This does require a Google account. Access will never expire.
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For those opting for online access only, you will need to supply your own painting surface and gold leaf. You will be emailed pdf files of all instructional material which you can print from home prior to the start of the retreat.
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First-time students are encouraged to purchase an Introductory Kit for $12 (highly recommended, add this before checkout to avoid extra shipping costs). See Essential Supplies for more details.
All levels of experience are welcome!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE is September 22nd
About This Icon
St. Francis of Assisi is often depicted surrounded by birds, a beloved image of his extraordinary love for God's creation. But beneath this familiar scene is a much deeper story: the story of a man whose entire life was transformed by his desire to follow Christ.
In this icon, the birds gather around Francis as fellow creatures in a hymn of praise, while the mountains rise behind him as a sign of his spiritual journey. His bare feet and simple habit speak of poverty and humility; the wounds on his hands and feet recall the stigmata he received on Mount La Verna, bearing the marks of the Crucified Christ.
As we write this icon, we will contemplate Francis's radical love of Christ, his embrace of poverty, his kinship with creation, and his journey toward God. In this 800th anniversary year of Francis's Transitus, we will also consider the final mystery of his life: how a life given entirely to Christ becomes, itself, an image of Christ.
What might it mean for our own lives to become an image of Christ?