Introduction to Islamic Art: Create Biomorphic Patterns
A course by Esra Alhamal , Artist, Educator, and Podcaster
Joined May 2021
Delve into the rich history of Islamic art to draw and paint intricate patterns that honor tradition and encourage experimentation
Delve into the rich history of Islamic art to draw and paint intricate patterns that honor tradition and encourage experimentation
Joined May 2021
An ancient art form steeped in tradition, dazzling patterns, and motifs inspired by nature, is at your fingertips. Saudi artist, educator, and podcaster Esra Alhamal has established a career in Islamic art, born from her profound adoration for the practice, and has specialized in the art form for her PhD. She founded online platform Islamic Illumination where she hosts workshops, and her weekly podcast Art Illuminated has received more than 15K downloads. Esra’s work has also been exhibited in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and in London where she is based.
In this course, learn how to reproduce a pattern from a 16th century Safavid manuscript in your own style. Discover the traditional methods of painting a symmetrical biomorphic pattern using free-hand techniques and an eight-pointed geometric grid for structure. Explore color harmony and experimentation, and see how to outline with ink and a brush to create stunning compositions of Islamic art. See where this ancient art form takes you.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 18 downloads
- 97% positive reviews (226)
- 9,672 students
- 16 lessons (3h 20m)
- 18 additional resources (6 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Paint a motif from the Safavid (Islamic Persian) period, with the choice of adding your own style to the pattern or following the original.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone interested in exploring traditional Islamic art and painting biomorphic patterns.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required; this course is suitable for anyone from beginners to advanced painters.
In terms of materials, you will need a pencil, ruler, eraser, compass, drawing paper, tracing paper, watercolor paper, gouache or watercolor paints, brushes, and waterproof black ink.
Reviews
A course by Esra Alhamal
Saudi artist, educator, and podcaster Esra Alhamal has dedicated her career to traditional Islamic art, experimenting with her own contemporary edge. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Interior Design, and a Master’s of Arts in Interior Architecture from London, where she is based. It was during her master’s that Esra spent her spare time taking Islamic pattern classes at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts.
Now a PhD candidate on the topic of traditional Islamic art history, she is determined to make the craft accessible and inspire others. She does so by sharing her expertise through workshops on the educational platform she founded, Islamic Illumination, and via her weekly podcast, Art Illuminated, which has received more than 15K downloads. Esra’s work has been exhibited in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain, and she has participated in collaborative shows in London. Alongside her art career and PhD, Esra set up Bristle & Brush with her husband, a business that makes natural and plastic-free watercolors.
Content
-
U1
Introduction
-
About Me
-
Influences
-
-
U2
Foundations
-
Brief History of Islamic Patterns, Manuscripts, and Illumination
-
Materials
-
Grid and Biomorphic Motifs
-
Colour Harmony and Painting
-
Outlining
-
-
U3
Drawing and Painting
-
Drawing the Grid
-
Adding the Biomorphs 1
-
Adding the Biomorphs 2
-
Tracing and Transferring
-
Painting Motifs
-
Outlining with Ink and Paint
-
Painting the Background
-
-
U4
Sun Rays and Social Media
-
Adding Sun Rays
-
Community and Social Media
-
-
FP
Final project
-
Introduction to Islamic Art: Create Biomorphic Patterns
-
What to expect from a Domestika course
-
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
-
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
-
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
-
Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
-
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
-
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
-
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
-
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
ananda781
Interessantissimo
View translation
Hide translation
isaelosegui
PlusMe ha gustado el curso; la profesora se ve que tiene preparación y motivación que trasmite en sus clases. Otra cosa que me ha impresionado que se ha documentado a través de libros; que nos ha enseñado todo el proceso con simpleza, utilizando materiales muy sencillos y sin recurrir a un ordenador.
El arte islámico es un mundo de colorido y combinaciones con sus formas geométricas.
Muchas gracias
View translation
Hide translation
munammalik
The trainer is excellent in explaining the traditional Islamic art and painting biomorphic patterns. I enjoyed watching the course. Now I will start practically implementing what I learn, Thanks Esra
sinsations_rs
Excellent course. Happy learning this.
marj_toledo
excelente curso lo disfrute mucho, fácil de seguir
View translation
Hide translation