• Exhibitions
  • Current
  • Exhibitions Archive
  • How to Exhibit With ECVA
  • Calls to Artists
• The Artists Registry
  • About the Artists Registry
  • Search for an Artist
  • Membership Information
  • Join the Artists Registry
• Image & Spirit
  • Image & Spirit Blog Archive
  • Intersections @ ECVA
  • Visio Divina Archive
• Calls to Artists
• News

Connie Wendleton

Jesus Calling the Disciples

Artist Statement: The icon "Jesus Calling the Disciples" portrays Jesus in Simon's boat on Lake Genneseret after asking Simon to pull out from shore. Using the boat as a pulpit, he is addressing the crowd on the shore who have come to hear the Word of God. In the manner of icons, more than one event is shown in one image. Although the fishermen have been fishing all night without catching anything, Jesus tells them to row into deeper water and let down their nets. Immediately, a huge catch of fish strains the capacity of the nets.

Bio: I studied and worked in the cities of the Northeast before relocating to the Florida Panhandle, in 2005. I became acquainted with the world of icons at a workshop taught by Teresa Harrison, and was hooked. In addition to Teresa, I have learned from Phil Zimmerman, Patricia Resmonda, Suzanne Schenk and Vladislav Andrejev.

While some contemporary iconographers continue to use traditional egg tempera paints, I prefer high-quality non-toxic acrylic paint that comes close to conveying the velvety texture of egg tempera. The gold leaf used is 24 karat.

I base my icons on prototypes drawn from both the Eastern and Western churches, time-honored ones and more modern ones, as long as they conform to tradition and church canons. Writing icons provides me with the joy of pursuing an ancient art through a modern medium.