A one-stop guide to icon-painting, including the history and spirituality of icons as well as simplified, step-by-step icon-painting technique. Everything you wanted to know about icons but didn't know where to look. This book, written with warmth and an obvious love for the subject, describes the history of icons and looks at why they've been an important spiritual tool for many centuries. It guides readers through the process of painting an icon, from making the initial sketches to applying the final glaze. The book will offer an easier and more accessible way to approach this art than the traditional - and time-consuming - methods. Also included are eight full-color plates of a selection of the author's icons, templates, and prayers for the blessing of an icon.