"This is a fabulous resource—practical, spiritual and fun."
—Publishers Weekly
"In our culture images can form us or deform us. It is therefore essential to our spiritual health to be surrounded by images that are life-giving and inspiring. My first icon retreat with Peter was a transformative experience. His book now beautifully captures his gifts as an iconographer and teacher."
—Diane Hamel, member of the Liturgical Art and Environment Commission for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan
"Through workshops and now this marvelous book, Peter Pearson makes praying with icons entirely accessible to contemporary hearts and minds. A Brush with God combines wise reflection with practical instruction . . . a valuable resource for beginning and experienced iconographers alike."
—Meredith Gould, Ph.D., author of The Catholic Home: Celebrations and Traditions and Come to the Table: A Catholic Passover Seder
"Much like its author, A Brush with God is a gentle and soulful treatise on the essence of iconography. Concise and practical yet still a comprehensive primer that will prove invaluable to all iconography students."
—Jody Cole, iconographer
"The mastery that Peter Pearson has long brought to the creation of icons, and the skill that he has shared in teaching this art on his icon retreats, he now offers to a broader public in the pages of this book. But most generously, Peter's humble but compelling spirituality—that suffuses all three forms—is his greatest gift to the believer and the Church."
—Fr. Rock Badgerow
"This little book is one of the more refreshing titles to appear in the spirituality genre in recent years. A few hours with Pearson and a canvas may bridge many a reader's gap between contemplation and action. Highly recommended."
—Library Journal
"A Brush with God is an informative guide to properly painting your own icon oriented art for such similar purposes, and is highly recommended for its outstanding easy-to-use and exceptionally instructive nature.
—The Midwest Book Review
"Recommended for artists, specifically iconographers, and for libraries in churches of Eastern religions or those with icons as part of worship and faith traditions.”
—Church and Synagogue Library Association
Icon writer (that's fancy church-speak for "painter of icons") Pearson taps into Western Christians' recent interest in icons-but rather than writing yet another introductory book that explains what icons are, when they originated or how to pray with them, Pearson wants to help readers create them. (Well, okay: in the first chapter, Pearson rehearses the history of icons and ruminates about praying with them, but then he gets down to brass tacks.) Chapter two lists the supplies people need to write an icon and explains how to prepare the panels. Pearson then discusses steps like drawing, applying gold leaf and adding an outer border. After describing the different types of icon styles-Byzantine, Russian, Coptic, contemporary-Pearson walks readers through the steps for making icons of Christ's head and shoulders, the Mother of God and Saint Nicholas. Practical tips abound: avoid "fast drying" varnish, and if readers want to "communicate gold cloth," they should start with an earthy-orange or red base color. An appendix lists shops and Web sites where readers can obtain supplies, and a glossary will help them remember the difference between an iconodule and an iconostasis. Helpful illustrations round out the book. This is a fabulous resource-practical, spiritual and fun. (Oct.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
