www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Icons & Iconography Theotokos without Christ?

Here is a link to an image of an icon I have recently finished. It depicts the Theotokos without depicting Christ, and follows a prototype called the Virgin of Crete:

http://holyimage.blogspot.com/

Additionally, my instructor is careful to follow canons, which leads me to believe that there is no canon forbidding the depiction of the Theotokos without Christ.

Do yourself a favour and buy this:

The ‘Painter’s Manual’ of Dionysius of Fourna. London: Sagittaurius Press, 1978.

Everything is explained there. All the do's and don'ts. It is a good English translation and cheap to buy. Most of the iconography we have of the Theotokos without Christ is inspired by the Akathist to the Theotokos.

Also buy this:
Ouspensky, Leonid. & Vladimir Lossky. The Meaning of Icons. Rev. Ed. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1982.

When I took a course on it my prof. said these 2 books are essential.