Drawing the Lotus: Indo-Islamic Carving Motifs
Online Weekend Practical Drawing Class
29 & 30 November 2026
3:00–5:30 pm (2.5 hours per session)Time zone in United Kingdom (GMT)
The lotus appears again and again across South and Central Asia — as a symbol of purity, unfolding, quiet strength, renewal, and awakening. It rises from the mud untouched by it, offering an image of clarity and the soul returning toward light. As the motif travels — through Chinese artistic lineages and the movements of artists after the Mongol-Timurid period — it enters Islamic art as well, softening into flowing, rhythmic patterns among vines and tendrils, appearing in carved stone, textiles, metalwork, and manuscript illumination.
This course explores the lotus as it appears in Indo-Islamic and Mughal stone carving traditions. We will study the lotus as a design system — understanding how petals, calyx, and palmette shapes are abstracted, repeated, and arranged into architectural ornament.
We will trace the lotus from early Indian and Buddhist symbolism, through Persianate artistic influence, to the refined Mughal vocabulary found at Humayun’s Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, and Agra Fort. We will also explore how the lotus motif appears in Chinese and Japanese decorative traditions, and how floral symbolism develops differently in Europeancontexts — including the Tudor rose and Renaissance ornament. This will show how a single floral form evolves, travels, and transforms while staying recognisable.
Through guided drawing we will cover:
- Identifying the lotus palmette form and its internal structure
- Constructing balanced, rhythmic curves and petal proportions
- Understanding carved depth: bevels, undercuts, and how they catch light
- Shading techniques to evoke carved stone, marble, wood, or stucco
- Developing motifs into repeating borders and medallion forms
We will also look at the materials historically used to carve the lotus — red sandstone, Makrana marble, basalt, wood, stucco, and pietra dura — and how each medium influences the expression of form.
Participants will leave with drawings, reference guides, and an understanding of the lotus as a trans‑regional visual language spanning South Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, and Europe.
This is a hands-on practical drawing class with a short introductory lecture to ground us in history and visual context before we begin. We will draw together step-by-step throughout both sessions. All abilities are welcome — from complete beginners to experienced artists. Please arrive on time, as each stage builds progressively. A downloadable recording of the full course will be provided to all participants afterwards.
- Practical drawing class with a short introductory lecture
- All abilities welcome (no drawing experience required)
- Please arrive on time so the step-by-step progression is clear
- Live sessions on 29 & 30 November 2026, 3:00–5:30 pm UK time
- Downloadable recording provided to all participants after the course
These online presentations are taught by Adam Williamson, inspired by his studies and travels.
Required Materials
- Compass
- Ruler
- A3 or A2 drawing paper
Mid‑tone paper is recommended (grey, tan, or natural craft). However, alternatives are encouraged, including hand‑tinted, coloured, or marbled paper, all of which create beautiful grounds for highlighting. - White pencil
- Graphite pencils: 3B–HB range
- Tracing paper
- Zero eraser / precision eraser (or equivalent)
Optional (useful but not essential):
Fine‑line drawing pens (0.1–0.5)
After registering, please wait to be redirected to the confirmation page.
We will also send an email before the class with materials to look over in advance, along with the Zoom passcode for joining the session on Saturday.
If your country does not support PayPal, please use the link Alternative registration option or email: adamzoomclasses@gmail.com
This course will take place on Zoom, so please download the free Zoom app beforehand.
