Painting was a family affair in Chionades. Children learned the art from their parents by following and assisting them as they travelled from place to place. The church of Saint Nicholas in Astakos is an impressive example of the pictorial skills of Thomas Papakostas (1864-1930), who belonged to one of the most famous and skilled families of Chionades. In this case, he seems to have been influenced by western European engravings, for his work in Saint Nicholas is reminiscent of Renaissance and Baroque paintings. They combine realism and naturalism with folk elements and colours to create a theatrical atmosphere that enlivens the interior of this three-aisled basilica.