With our firm faith in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come, our beloved Dr.Isaac Fanous rested his soul to our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, January 14, 2007

Isaac Fanous, was born on December 19, 1919., is an Egyptian artist and scholar, specializing in Coptic art. Fanous is considered the father of modern Coptic iconography and the initiator of the modern renaissance in Coptic art. He has trained a number of other Coptic artists from abroad.Fanous's contemporary school of iconography came about as part of a general renaissance of Coptic culture which began during the patriarchate of Abba Kyrillos VI in the years following the 1952 revolution. As wealthy patrons of the arts disappeared from Egypt's hitherto cosmopolitan art world they were replaced by the state, and the career of Fanous took off from the struggles and experiences of his time. That is to say, he became more keenly aware of his Egyptian heritage.

Fanous was one of the first students of the Institute of Coptic Studies founded in 1954 and he obtained his doctorate in 1958 . His two-year study grant in the Louvre in the mid- 1960s was a turning point in his career. while he was in France, he took the opportunity to study icon painting under Léonid Ouspensky, under whose patronage he developed a passion both as artist and theologian. This would lead, eventually, to his developing a style that was become the new face of Coptic iconography in the mid-20th century.

May our Lord Jesus Christ repose his soul in the Paradise of Delight.

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Guirguis George of the Coptic Art Studio has recently returned from Seattle, Washington, where he has created a mural for St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church. We would like to share the experience with you through some pictures;     Christ Pantocrator |14' Diameter | Charcoal on drafting paper   Before beginning the actual mural, the artist creates several drafts of the design he has chosen. This is a draft of a portion of what will become a large mural. Here we see Christ 14' Diameter . This was done in charcoal on drafting paper in the actual size.       Now working from the design, Mr. George is painting the mural on the dome of the church.   Mr. George is using acrylic paint. The dome is stucco. This is roughly a quarter of the mural and of course its center.             If you should ever find yourself in Seattle visit St. Mary church.   We are still in operation as before and have a growing collection of icons and paintings. We are looking foreword as always to hearing from you. Your friends at Coptic Art Studio, Saturday, April 22, 2006 http://copticartstudio.com