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Open until 11:30 pm
Course Brief Description:
This four-day course will take art lovers, painters, calligraphers and traditional art enthusiasts on an engaging journey. This course is essential for participants who enjoy learning about Islamic floral shapes, which consist of stylized botanical forms of leaves and flowers—the foundation of traditional Islamic illumination.
In this hands-on course, artists passionate about Islamic art will explore part of the history behind these shapes. They will learn and practice how to paint Islamic flowers on paper using gouache colors and shell gold. By the end of this course, participants will have created their own artwork, which can be framed to decorate their space.
This course will cover various topics, from re-creating biomorphic patterns from historic manuscripts to painting them using traditional methods. Participants will also practice preparing traditional materials, such as making shell gold and preparing paper for their new art pieces.
Course Objectives:
- Learning about the history of Islamic art through flower patterns and decorations.
- Understanding different techniques in Islamic painting.
- Practicing brush outlining and the impasto painting technique.
- Learning the basics of Islamic illumination and practicing its traditional process.
- Learning the fundamentals of creating a manuscript pattern.
Course Outcomes:
- Participants will gain knowledge and understanding of the Islamic floral style.
- Participants will recognize and understand the Islamic color palette and the different techniques in Islamic floral illumination.
- Participants will learn and develop the skills needed to paint, shade, stylize and outline biomorphic patterns.
- Participants will explore the basics of the manuscript illumination process, starting from the preparation of materials.
- Participants will understand the different types and processes of manuscript illumination.
- Participants will acquire professional drawing skills and practice them.
Recommended for:
This course is ideal for anyone who enjoys art, painting, calligraphy and traditional artistic practices.
Facilitator
Esra Al Hamal
The Saudi artist Dr. Esra Alhamal is the General Manager of The School of Calligraphy and Ornamentation in UAE. Dr. Alhamal is also an educator, podcaster, and co-founder of Bristle and Brush watercolors, based in London, UK. Dr. Alhamal completed her PhD at the University of East London and her thesis studied Islamic biomorphic Nabati patterns and illumination. She is also passionate about traditional art and has been putting this passion into practice since 2014.
