Panagia Painting by Olga Krasanaki

Olga Krasanaki was born in Athens, grew up, and now lives in Iraklion (Herakleon), Crete. Her interest in painting began at a very early age, taking lessons at the painting workshop of Azarias Mandanian and Aphroditi Daskalaki
In 1992 she was accepted at the School of Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In 1999 she completed her studies, while enriching at the same time her studies in art. She attended classes for two years at the Fine Art workshop of Chrestos Tirekidis (1993-1995).
From 1998 to 2002 she studied at the school of hagiography (iconography) and mosaic of the parish of St. Titus at Iraklion under the guidance of very important teachers, such as Georgios Hirakakis in hagiography, Manolis Saridakis in design and chromatology and Markos Dukakis in mosaics and art maintenance.
From that time on, her involvement with art follows the paths of Byzantine iconography and painting. Many of her paintings made with egg tempera, acrylics and oil adorn several private collections in Greece and abroad, having various subject matters, such as still life, seascapes, landscapes, portraits etc.
In recent years she has developed an interest and creates works of abstract art, which are likewise received warmly by the buying public.
In 2002 she takes part, with success in the group exhibitions of young Cretan iconographers, throughout Crete, showcasing iconography and mosaics. Since then she has created icons for churches and private customers in Crete, the rest of Greece and the rest of the world. A great number of her icons have been made for the Dependency of the Holy Monastery of Sinai (Egypt) in Chania dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Moreover some of the icons such as those of St. Gerasimos Archbishop of Crete the New Martyr, St Paraskevi and St. Eleftherios are to be found in the church of St. Matthew, the Dependency of Sinai in Iraklion.
She has made a number of copies of byzantine icons but also original compositions such as the aforementioned St. Gerasimos showing his martyrdom and burial, St Asclepius, St Prisca, the guardian angel and many more.
In 2012 she enriched her technique with the method of encaustic (molten wax), by which method she created a copy of the well-known icon of Christ Pantokrator, of the holy monastery of Sinai, in its actual dimensions, an icon which has admirers all over the world and is of great international interest.
Olga’s aim, as concerns iconography is to contribute with her efforts to the spreading of byzantine art as an aesthetic, but more importantly, as a spiritual experience and uplift.
As a hobby she occasionally studied byzantine music, acquiring the degree in 2006.

• Nationality: GREECE
• Date of birth : unknown date
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary Greek Artists