Dissident Mama, episode 54 - Shayne Swenson

Shayne Swenson is a professional Orthodox iconographer and painter living in rural Washington State. He specializes in creating iconography from several different periods and historic Orthodox locales, both Eastern and Western. In addition to iconography, Swenson is also involved in the study and practice of academic oil painting with an emphasis on utilizing the techniques of the Old Masters, again from both East and West. He has been married for nearly two decades and has 5 children, one German Shepherd, and one 17-pound cat.

Swenson and I discuss how how he got into art, iconography and “the rules,” modern art and social decline, his conversion story, the “alt-right,” progressive subversion, faith over ideology, tattoos, and more. Be sure to follow Swenson on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, where you can see his work and also contact him about commissions. His website ShayneSwenson.com is forthcoming.

A few links pertinent to our conversation:

• “Everyday Saints and Other Stories” by Archimandrite Tikhon
• Fr. Seraphim Rose’s “Orthodox Survival Course”
• Rebel Yell, episode 209, “Todd Lewis & the Alt-Right Report II”
• My podcast interview with Dr. Thomas Fleming who defines “ideology” and the problem with it.

Be sure to visit Dissident Mama, and please consider supporting​ my work through PayPal @ or Patreon.