• Courses:
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Instagram

artofislamicpattern

We are in Palermo researching Moorish Sicily, we p We are in Palermo researching Moorish Sicily, we plan to share this forgotten rich cultural fusion online next Saturday!

NEW ONLINE - Patterns of Palermo ~ Moorish Sicily 
SPECIAL ONE DAY ONLINE presentations taught LIVE ON LOCATION IN ITALY 
Explore Sicilys rich history and confluence of styles through two Unseco World Heritage sites. A cultural fusion of Norman, Fatmid Architecture, Moorish interlacing arches and Byzantine mosaics of The Monreale and Palermo Cathedrals.
We will explore and draw patterns from the ancient city of Palermo including the windows of the San Cataldo, the stunning Dome of the Palermo Cathedral and the famous geometric Cosmati floor of the Cathedral of Monreale 

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Sat, 2 July 
Class one ~  Draw The Honeycomb Dome Ceiling of Cattedrale di Palermo 
with Stephanie June Ellis
9am - 12pm UK TIME
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Class two ~ Draw the Cosmati Floor Mosaic Of Monreale Cathedral
with Adam Williamson 
3pm - 6pm UK TIME
The act of making art or craft requires not only s The act of making art or craft requires not only skill, but presence – from the Latin praessentia, ‘to be at hand’, literally ‘being before’, or ‘before being’. 

We are looking forward to carving plaster rosettes on this weekends workshop in the London studios.

This picture is a still moment on our last visit to Dar El Bacha during our 2018 Marrakech Study Trip. Looking forward to this Autumns return to the heart of carving craftsmanship.

#morocco #plaster #stucco #islamicpattern #islamicgeometricpattern #stucco #marakesh #carving #pillar #
Glowing golden grains by @rimfinaldrawing.pdf made Glowing golden grains by @rimfinaldrawing.pdf made on the last Marquetry class and fresh out the clamps. The next presentation is the weekend of the 27th & 28th August 2022 in the london studios.
Toronto, Canada 11-14th  August 2022 We excited Toronto, Canada 11-14th  August 2022
We excited to be teaching 4-day program at the stunning Ismaili Centre, Toronto Canada.

The intensive will include 10 distinct but complementary sessions. Participants are welcome to take one or all the sessions.

https://artofislamicpattern.com/study-trips/toronto/#/4

Picture credits: painting by @kamillecorry  Ismaili Centre pictures by Moriyama and Teshima Architects.
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DAY 1
Thursday ~ 11th August 2022
Introducing Islamic Geometric Patterns  
9.30am – 12pm 

Using the traditional tools of compass and straight edge we will a create a traditional geometric design.
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Arabesque Pattern
1 – 3.30pm 
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Geometric Mamluk Patterns
5 – 7.30pm
Drawing the marble rosette at Sultan Hasan
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DAY 2
Friday ~ 12th August 2022

Geometric Persian Patterns
9.30am – 12pm   
5&10-fold symmetry. 
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Arabesque Mamluk Patterns 
1.00 – 3:30pm 
Learn beautiful biomorphic motifs from Egypt & Syria and draw this stunning 12 fold frontispiece of the Sultan Uljaytu Quran.
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Arabesque Persian Patterns
5 – 7.30pm 
Create a beautiful 6 fold ‘Rumi Islimi pattern’ from Kerman & learn about the ‘Rumi’ family of biomorphic motifs.
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DAY 3
 Saturday ~ 13th August 2022
Intro to Sacred Geometry  

With Stephanie June Ellis aka @theartofprocess 
9.30am – 12pm   
Investigate principles of symmetry and tessellation, the universal principles govern growth and structure and are found in both crystalline and botanical nature. 
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Geometry Master Class

– With @richardhenryart 
Double Session 1pm – 6 pm  
In this more advanced Master Class we will explore multi-level Girih designs from medieval Persia and their links the more recently discovered Penrose tiling.
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Free Public Lecture – With Adam Williamson @adamwilliamsonart 
Introduction to Islamic Arts and Crafts 
7.15 – 8.30pm
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DAY 4
 
Sunday ~ 14th August 2022
Double session

Plaster Carving
10am – 4pm
With Adam Williamson 

Experience one of the most satisfying carving processes and complete a geometric and biomorphic pattern of your choice. Using traditional Moroccan tools and techniques.
We are writing articles throughout 2022 for Aramco We are writing articles throughout 2022 for Aramco World Magazine exploring Pattern’s from around the globe. These publications are accompanied by films exploring each pattern in detail. 

https://www.aramcoworld.com/Articles/January-2022/Art-of-Islamic-Patterns-Alicatado

You can subscribe free
@aramcoworld
Granada Study Trip 2022 Climb up to the Nasrid Pa Granada Study Trip 2022

Climb up to the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra with us this September for our latest Granada Study trip.

We will be drawing ancient moorish patterns in the cultural centre at the top of the Albaicin on the hill facing the Alhambra within the beautiful cobbled streets of the medieval Moorish district, a world heritage site.

We will immerse ourselves in the history and tradition on walking guided tours and lectures with local specialists. The experience culminates with leather embossing workshop with a celebrated local craftswoman, Munira Mendonça. 

We have been running classes for 12 years in the ancient Al-andalus and this home of majestic patterns and this historic crucible of culture, philosophy and beauty feels like home to us.

Study Trip	28th Sept - 1st October 2022

Links on the website
Travel with us to the ancient labyrinthine medinas Travel with us to the ancient labyrinthine medinas and secret courtyards of Morocco to explore ancient patterns, living crafts and sacred spaces!

Morocco Study trips this September!

~ Places on the Autumn trips (& Spring 2023) are already booking up, check the website for registrations. ~
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Fez
5th - 9th September 2022

Our home and classroom for the week is the sublime Dar Seffarine a 600-year-old courtyard house deep in the oldest part of the Fez medina and covered with original splendid carved plaster, woodwork, zellij and zouaq (painted wood).

Everyday we draw classical patterns, eat delectable food cooked in-house, learn from local specialists and craftsmen and visit some of the most remarkable architectural masterpieces in the Islamic world: the Bou Inania Madrasa (1356) and the Al-Attarine Madrasa (1331) and to other important hidden gems. 

We will travel out of town to the centre of ceramics to spend the day making zellij (traditional mosaic tiles) where participants will produce their own unique pieces.

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Marrakech
12-16th September 2022

The classes will take place in-between the fruit trees and fountains of the main courtyard at Riad Karmela, a beautiful traditional riad in the heart of the medina, a UNESCO world heritage site. 

Each day we will recreate patterns from the breathtaking local monuments including the Ben Youssef Madrasa (14th century) the Bahia Palace (19th C), the Saadian Tombs (16th C) and other unique monuments. There will be a traditional pottery class with local craftsmen in Dar Cherifa, one of the oldest houses in the ancient medina and a final meal at Riad Palais Sebban 

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Participants combining both trips will receive a 10% discount off the combined total fee.

Email us for a full program.
LONDON SUMMER SCHOOL 2022 25th July - 5th August 2 LONDON SUMMER SCHOOL 2022
25th July - 5th August 2022

Join us for this year’s Summer Intensive. Open to students who are new to Islamic Patterns, as well as those with some previous experience, participants may join for 1 or 2 weeks. Week 1 is an intensive version of our weekly introductory course and assumes no previous knowledge of Islamic Patterns. Week 2 of the Summer School will comprise an advanced course focusing on a particular region. This year the course for Week 2 will be one of our most popular follow-courses Mamluk Patterns.
Over the two weeks we will cover all aspects of Islamic pattern making, including geometric drawing, biomorphic design/Arabesque and each week will culminate a traditional craft element.

LINK IN THE BIO 

NOTE: Students may choose to attend 1 or 2 weeks of the programme. Participants who choose to enrol for 2 weeks are entitled to a £80 discount.

Week 1
Monday – Friday 10:30am – 4.30pm
25 – 29th July 2022

This introductory module will introduce 6-fold and 8-fold geometric patterns from across the Islamic world, together with elementary biomorphic patterns, with a focus upon the Rumi motif. 
The module culminates with the application of traditional plaster and stucco carving.

Week 2 – Mamluk Patterns
Monday – Friday 10:30am – 4.30pm
1 – 5th August 2022

In this popular follow-on course students who already have some experience of constructing geometric and arabesque patterns now can build upon these skills by focusing upon patterns associated with the Mamluks in Egypt.
This coursE will bring to life ancient patterns from majestic Qur’ans, such as those of Sultan Baybars and Sultan Uljaytu. There will also be a strong architectural focus with an emphasis upon the door patterns and screens from Medieval Cairo and studies of surface ornament within the mosques of Ibn Tulun and Sultan Hassan.
The course culminates with an illumination project, students will grind shell gold and learn traditional tezhip painting skills. We will prepare and work with real gold leaf and natural pigments.
Exquisite carving by @marta_toopoornicka on todays Exquisite carving by @marta_toopoornicka on todays Plaster carving class with @adamwilliamsonart in our London Studio. 

We have a growing studio schedule which already includes Marquetry rosettes next weekend, our summer school in August which has now been running for 12 years! plus a sacred geometry weekend in May and the next plaster carving class in June!

We will soon publicly announce the relaunch of our study trips to Morocco, Spain, Turkey and beyond! Plus weekend workshop intensives to Canada, US, Australia and more. We look forward to drawing, making and exploring patterns with you all once more!
Current class in our East London studio for Carlet Current class in our East London studio for Carleton College from the US.

You can join our Summer school here which runs for the first 2 weeks of August. 

Follow the link in the bio for details
Samarra Stucco Sundays Stucco salutations! we ha Samarra Stucco Sundays 

Stucco salutations! we have been analysing new patterns from the ancient soffits at Ibn Tulun in Cairo and exploring the roots of Islamic ornamentation.

Join @adamwilliamsonart this Sunday afternoon to explore the origins of these patterns we love and deep dive into this rich world of curvilinear geometry and delicate ornamentation. 

The Samarra Stucco

The 9th Century Abbasid carvings at Samarra are some of the earliest examples of Islamic Art, these rich and unique patterns have a rich array of influences from Byzantine to Sasanian and Hellenic. After the collapse of the Abbasid caliphate stucco continued to be one of the main forms of decoration and spread throughout the Islamic world to India, Anatolia and Spain. Intrados/soffit is the interior curve of an arch, adorning the passage or heavenly gateway. Vines spiral and flow from the arch apex bifurcating into blooming motifs, dancing inside crystalline geometric forms.
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The Samarra Stucco Sundays 
REGISTER 
3pm UK Time Sundays 
27th Feb 2022
&
6th March 2022
The London studio was back up in full swing last w The London studio was back up in full swing last weekend for our Sacred Geometry day immersion with @theartofprocess and @adamwilliamsonart

Next Sacred Geometry Day Course will be on Saturday, 7th May 2022.

Other upcoming weekend class in March:

Plaster Carving - 12th & 13th March 2022

Weekend Wood Marquetry - 19 & 20 March 2022

All bookings can be made here: https://artofislamicpattern.com/courses/
A beautiful heptagonal design detail within the Iw A beautiful heptagonal design detail within the Iwan of the Jameh Mosque, Isfahan (photo: R Henry 2006). 
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ANNOUNCING NEW ONLINE SERIES: The Secret of Sevens. 
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Registration link @richardhenryart
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Revered as a sacred number across many ancient traditions, the number seven is extremely rare within the natural world, and it cannot be constructed with compass and edge with perfect mathematical precision. Nevertheless, there are numerous very close approximations, some of which are strikingly beautiful.  In this 4 week online course, we will explore a range of rare seven-fold constructions from the Islamic tradition. We will revisit the Topkapi scroll, as well as study unique designs from Anatolia, Mamluk Egypt and Persia. The class will be suitable for beginners, as well as those seeking to refresh their skills. Taught by Richard Henry, all patterns covered will be designs not previously taught online before by Richard.
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#numberseven
#persia
#iran
#muqarnas
#mosaic
#heptagon
#iwan
#poetryinpattern 
#goldenratio
#sacredgeometry 
#geometryathome 
#onlineteaching 
#onlineseries
#geometricart
#geometricpattern #geometricdesign #interiordesign #architecturalpatterns #tiling #mathematicalpattern
#rulerandcompass #artcourse 
#Islamicgeometricpatterns #islamicgeometry #islamicdesign #islamicart
“Don't try to be original. Be simple. Be good te “Don't try to be original. Be simple. Be good technically, and if there is something in you, it will come out.” 

Henri Matisse

Woodcarving workshop with @adamwilliamsonart in the studio last week. Best way to embody pattern is to realise them.

Patterns from Cordoba, Cairo, Raghistan and Persia

Workshop with @schooloftraditionalarts
A moorish analysis of the horseshoe arches on the A moorish analysis of the horseshoe arches on the west facade of the Mezquita in Córdoba. Its part of preparation by @adamwilliamsonart and @theartofprocess for our upcoming online series ‘Patterns on the Road’. @patternsontheroad 

All next week will be sharing drawing classes live from the most important moorish monuments across Andalusia, Spain. 

We are excited to explore this new format, drawing patterns direct from location and looking forward to seeing you all there.

Patterns on the Road
Moorish monuments of Al-Andalus الأَنْدَلُس‎
Live online sessions direct from Monuments across Andalusia, Spain.
5th – 10th October 2021
(by donation)

https://artofislamicpattern.com/online-classes/patterns-live-from-spain/#/2
This Sunday we explore the mysterious enneagon Muq This Sunday we explore the mysterious enneagon Muqarnas from the Great Mosque of Herat.

Enneagon Muqarnas, Art of Afghanistan
Online 
9 - 11.30am or 3 - 5.30pm
26th Sept 2021 

This class is a part of the series celebrating the arts and Crafts of Afghanistan. No previous experience needed for this class.

We will draw the elegant 9 fold geometric iwan and then the sumptuous biomorphic elements within the luza’s

Legend has it that the Russian mystic Gurdjieff first encountered the enneagram in a Sufi monastery in Afghanistan at the end of the nineteenth century.

We would like to join together to celebrate the arts and crafts and rich decorative history of Afghanistan. Herat was an important link on the Silk road evident in a proliferation of influences and styles prevalent in the abundant ornamentation through the 11th century Mosque.

Session analysed and taught by @adamwilliamsonart & @theartofprocess 

https://artofislamicpattern.com/online-classes/new-online-the-boteh-celebrating-the-art-of-afghanistan/#/18
Irrepressible natural beauty, loving these artwork Irrepressible natural beauty, loving these artworks from our recent Marquetry class! Freshly pressed and oiled.

Everyone gave their heart and soul to process, you can feel that resonance when you turn the pieces over in your hands. Its been a balm to craft and create together again, we were all so absorbed in patterns and lost in the effervescent woodgrains that no-one could look up let alone take a lunch break or leave the studio at the end of the day.

We will be opening the studio up again for another Marquetry weekend again over 8th & 9th January 2021

https://artofislamicpattern.com/courses/new-ceramic-tiles-2/#/0
Patterns from Afghanistan To celebrate the arts Patterns from Afghanistan 

To celebrate the arts and crafts and rich decorative history of Afghanistan we will study the famous Boteh symbol (also know as the paisley) over two online sessions. This sacred symbol representing the (cypress) tree of life and also the Zoroaster sacred flame appears throughout the sublime Great Mosque of Herat in Afghanistan.

Herat was an important link on the Silk road evident in a proliferation of influences and styles prevalent in the abundant ornamentation through the 11th century Mosque.

The Boteh teardrop motif represents the eternal spirit and the season of autumn. 

Both classes will be taught twice, you are welcome to join either/both presentations. 

Part 1 – Introducing Boteh motif
9 – 11.30am & 3 – 5.30pm
19th September 2021

Part 2 – The Dome of Herat Mosque 
9 – 11.30am & 3 – 5.30pm
26th September 2021

Class link in the stories

30% of the registrations will be donated to the supporting crafts in Afghanistan via the wonderful charity https://www.turquoisemountain.org/donate

ONLINE presentation taught by Stephanie June Ellis aka @theartofprocess & @adamwilliamsonart 

https://artofislamicpattern.com/online-classes/new-online-the-boteh-celebrating-the-art-of-afghanistan/#/9
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London Studio
  • Summer School – LONDON
  • LONDON ~ Wood Marquetry ~ Aug 2022
  • LONDON ~ Plaster Carving ~ Oct 2022
  • LONDON ~ Wood Marquetry ~ Aug 2022
International
  • Granada ~ Sept 2022
  • Fez, Morocco ~ Sep 2022 & May 2023
  • Marrakech ~ Sept ’22 May ’23
  • Toronto ~ Aug 2022
Resources
  • Introduction to Geometry
  • Introduction to Arabesque
  • Iranian Field Study
  • Links, Books and Materials
  • Archive of Islamic Patterns by Region
  • Instagram
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