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artofislamicpattern

Ever speculated about the blend of these historic

Ever speculated about the blend of these historic 15th century Topkapi Turkish coffee stains? ☕️ they really aught be analysed 🔬

NEW SERIES will focus upon patterns for the Topkapi Scroll

Taught by Richard Henry

Housed within the museum of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul the 30 meter scroll, believed to have been prepared in Safavid Persia in the 15th century, is one of the most important historical documents within the field of Islamic geometric pattens. Comprised of 114 drawings, it offers key insights into the thinking of the medieval pattern masters, often illustrating hidden sud-grids from which surface patterns are derived.

In this 6 week course, we will dive into this extraordinary document and recreate a series of key designs from the scroll. We will uncover connections to a much broader range of designs found throughout the Islamic world and consider the implications for our own contemporary work.

This intermediate-advanced level course is suitable for students who already have experience in constructing patterns by hand with compass and ruler (complete beginners would be advised to complete either the Primer Series or one of the Explorer Series in order to gain the most from this course).

Each session will be 2.5 hours long (although occasionally we will overrun slightly). All registrants will receive weekly invites to upcoming LIVE sessions, as well as life-time access to all access to video recordings of all previously presented sessions. A workshop video and additional supporting material will be available to download to ALL registrants after each session, whether they are able to attend the ‘live’ session or not. (Scroll through gallery in banner above to see images of complex and combined rosettes, typical of those that we will examine in this series, as well as former students’ work ).

Beautifully rendered piece by @inesarosteguiartes

Beautifully rendered piece by @inesarosteguiartes from the Alhambra Palace, taught on one of our recent online classes by@richardhenryart #alhumbrapalace #pencil #drawing #geometry #sacredgeometry #rendering #stucco

Continuing our current weaving theme we have a cou

Continuing our current weaving theme we have a couple of new exciting online classes including a special appearance by Adam Tetlow who will join us for a Celtic/Islamic knotwork class. Links in the stories.

Celtic & Islamic Knotwork - Thursday 24th September 2020 @adamwilliamsonart will discuss connections between Islamic and Celtic Knotwork before Adam Tetlow teaches a stunning pattern.

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Moorish Stucco Patterns - Sunday 20th September 2020 
We will be drawing two moorish biomorphic patterns using dynamic squares and rhombic grid systems. Moorish arches and niches from the Bou Inania Madrasa (1356) Fez Morocco and the stunning Mezquita in Córdoba, which in the height of Al-Andalus was the largest city in Europe and the leading cultural and economic centre of the Islamic world.

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Finally sourced an image for the recent Curvilinea

Finally sourced an image for the recent Curvilinear Star Pattern we drew a couple of weeks ago! Thanks to @tjrdc 🙏 You can draw this by following the link in the stories. Contemplating this image starts me dreaming of flowing marble fountains, dusty cobbles and slow September sunsets from the Mirador. #granadadreaming #takemeback

Link in the stories

Link in the stories

✏️ Free the hand, tomorrow @adamwilliamsonart

✏️ Free the hand, tomorrow @adamwilliamsonart is sharing some drawing techniques to build patterns using just pencil and paper, skills that aid sketching on site and improve hand eye coordination and help gain a deeper connection to archetypal patterns, we will develop measuring devises using just the body and pencil to record patterns in the field.

NEW online series taught by Richard Henry focusing

NEW online series taught by Richard Henry focusing on Complex and Combined Rosettes. Link in the stories

The presence of complex geometric designs, in which different rosettes are combined to stunning effect, is one of the unique characteristics of the Islamic geometric tradition. Over 6 sessions we will study a range of complex and combined rosettes, looking at varying number combinations, such as 12-fold and 8-fold combinations, 16-fold & 8-fold, 12-fold & 9-fold and the incorporation of heptagons and pentagons into more exotic designs. We will ask what are the general principles underlying these patterns? Is there a unified approach to their analysis and reconstruction and what do we do when presented with a novel combination that we’ve never seen before? Designs studied will cover the full breadth of the Islamic world from the Indian subcontinent to Iran, Anatolia, Egypt, Syria and the Maghrib.

Summer intensive course next week in our new East

Summer intensive course next week in our new East London Studios, registration in the stories!

Summer School: 17th – 21st August 2020
5 day intensive course: Mon -Fri, 10.30am – 4.30pm

Look forward to seeing you and creating patterns and plaster carving together!

COURSE MATERIAL WILL DIFFER FROM OUR ONLINE CLASSES.

This introductory module will introduce 6-fold and 12-fold geometric patterns from across the Islamic world, together with elementary biomorphic patterns, with a focus upon the Rumi motif. There will be two brief contextual slide lectures.

The second part will cover 4 and 8-fold geometric patterns from across the Islamic world . The module culminates with a practical craft element.

The craft focus in will be 3-dimensional carving.

Students will have the opportunity to carve in plaster, using traditional Moroccan tools and methods.

outstanding painting by @antaramotifs

Pre-order our new book! We are currently compilin

Pre-order our new book!
We are currently compiling and creating a book to celebrate the stunning artwork that has emerged as a result of @adamwilliamsonart lockdown classes.
This exciting endeavour will be a soft cover book entitled “Profound Patterns” produced as a not-for-profit project.
The book will be comprised of 20 chapters; each based on a pattern taught during the online lockdown classes, complete with backstory, pattern construction stages and of course all your stunning artwork.

The book is entirely self funded, to help cover the costs, the book is now available to pre-order, Link in the stories.
There is also the opportunity to pre-order multiple books on behalf of those with less resources. If you are participating on the the classes and cannot afford a book please email us. adamzoomclasses@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING TO THE BOOK
We have seen so many stunning images created during this time on the Instagram platform, however many of the images have been screengrabbed or have text written across them. If you would like your work to be considered for this collaboration, could you please email us your chosen artwork, including your best detail shots. Please follow the email instructions on the website to help with our organization. Link in the bio. You can also tag any images @profoundpatterns we are also using this to catalogue.

The Mystery of the Mexuar Draw this famous Alicat

The Mystery of the Mexuar

Draw this famous Alicatados masterpiece of the Mexuar with us over a special 2 part extended event.
Session 1 Thursday 11th June 2020 15:00- 18:00 (GMT+1)

Session 2 Sunday 14th May June 15:00- 18:00 (GMT+1)

link in the stories and bio

If you can't take Thursday then, download the recording after the session and undertake the first section in your own time.

This is one of the first patterns you encounter when you enter the Alhambra Palace, its synonymous with the architecture of Nasrids Spain.

Mexuar is derived from the Arabic term Maswar, the place where the Surah or Counsel of Ministers met. It was also the place or hall where the Sultan dispensed justice.

We will draw a series of Alicatados (cut ceramic) rosettes and look at the alternative centres and weaving techniques.

The weekend drawings by @richardhenryart there is

The weekend drawings by @richardhenryart there is an exciting array of upcoming classes scheduled for the coming week. Check the link in the bio!

Looking forward to Sundays class! We will be drawi

Looking forward to Sundays class! We will be drawing the Bou Inania Tablet found deep in the Fez Medina. There’s a link in the bio to all upcoming online classes. This is a clip of @adamwilliamsonart drawing the biomorphic composition one sunrise within the courtyard of @darseffarine Fez.

Yesterday @adamwilliamsonart & @leiladear drew the

Yesterday @adamwilliamsonart & @leiladear drew the classic Ben Youseff 8 fold rosette with variations. 300 people tuned in for the event. These stunning versions are by a talented participant and friend Mariam aka @geometryofthesoul
On Thursday we will be drawing patterns from the minbar of Ibn Tulun, click the link in the bio for details.

Drawing by @bintsafar on last weeks Rustem Pasha B

Drawing by @bintsafar on last weeks Rustem Pasha BabaNakkash zoom class with @adamwilliamsonart
We are teaching classes Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Click the link in bio for details

Phenomenal drawings from last Sundays ’History o

Phenomenal drawings from last Sundays ’History of the Moorish Arch’ class taught by @adamwilliamsonart
Artworks by
@kamillecorry
@design_by_kaysquared
@aishachangezi
@maziz_aia
@maigornall
@mathemartiste
We have a series of new upcoming online classes, just published, link in the bio.

All classes 15:00- 18:30 GMT+1
Yazd Rosette - Persian biomorphic pattern
With Adam Williamson
Thursday 7th May

Alhambra 12 fold rosette weave
With Adam Williamson
Sunday 10th May

Darj w ktaf Patterns, moorish step and shoulder patterns
With Adam Williamson
Thursday 14th May

Moroccan rosettes
With Adam Williamson
Sunday 17th May
Exploring 8-Fold Symmetry With Richard Henry
9th May 2020

Exploring 5/10-fold Symmetry With Richard Henry
16th May 2020

Astounding representation by @ancientether Complet

Astounding representation by @ancientether Completing the Lotfollah dome drawing class taught by @adamwilliamsonart on Thursday. Ary’s recent journey is also extremely inspiring, glad you could tune in!
We have have a series of classes scheduled for both this weekend and next, click the link in the bio. 4 fold geometry this afternoon, Moorish Horseshoe arches tomorrow afternoon.

On next weeks online class we will be drawing a Mo

On next weeks online class we will be drawing a Moorish horseshoe and multi-foil arch and learning about the extraordinary evolution of the arch throughout civilisations across the world.
We will focus on the Moorish arches from the Alcázar in Seville, Medina Azahara and the stunning Mezquita (pictured) in Córdoba, which in the height of Al-Andalus (Southern Spain) was the largest city in Europe and the leading cultural and economic centre of the Islamic world.

Horseshoe Arches
Sunday 3rd May 2020
15:00- 18:00
(GMT+1)

LINK IN THE BIO

OTHER UPCOMING ONLINE CLASSES -
Golden Spiral & dodecahedron Saturday 25th April, 15:00- 18:30 GMT+1

6 fold Pattern from the Ottoman Rustem Pasha Camii Sunday 26th April, 15:00- 18:00 GMT+1

Draw the geometric Lotfollah Dome in Isfahan Thursday 30th April, 15:00- 18:00 GMT+1

Picture by @adamwilliamsonart

“The higher purpose of geometry is to participat

“The higher purpose of geometry is to participate, body, soul and spirit, in the objective universal laws that govern and cohere our universe. This activity can lead us directly to the centre of our own understanding which unifies us with the whole.” Keith Critchlow.

Keith was our teacher and introduced so many of us to Islamic Art. He was not only an enlightened educator but also humble and forever inquisitive, a true searcher.
He died peacefully on the full moon last week.

Thank you Keith.
16th March 1933 – 8th April 2020

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