Icon writing in Leuven: the art of looking at a face

For the past few weeks, some UCU graduates studying at K.U.Leuven along with a Bulgarian energy consultant, and the French executive director of EDUkraine, have been gathering on Sundays to learn icon-painting under the supervision of the young Ukrainian iconographer Natalia Tserklevych.

In this time of practical work, the groups are developing ties as they investigate together the details of the icon they chose to reproduce - learning the art of looking beyond the face to see the soul.

Having started from scratch, they enjoy seeing every week the traits of their icon taking shape, and sharing comments on their choice as well as every one's progress.

With the encouragements of EDUkraine executive director Marie-Aude Tardivo, it is hoped that some of the icons produced by the students will be exhibited during EDUkraine's inaugural evening on May 20.

A former UCU graduate herself, Natalia Tserklevych studied art from age 10 to 16. At 17 she had her first exhibition of art in the Art Gallery in Lviv "Porohova Vezha." She began studying at UCU in 2000 and continued to paint. At 19, she had her second exhibition in UCU. In 2003 she entered the faculty of the Sacred Arts in Lviv at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 2005 she began studying in KUL, and now again practices painting through the school of icon painting offered by the Ukrainian community in Leuven.