Halkar Ornamentation: Types and Techniques of Execution – Beginner Level

Course Overview
This hands-on workshop focuses on teaching the Halkâr style Halkâr is distinguished by its precision, balanced gilding that lends artworks an elevated aesthetic dimension, and its unique blending of colours and gold. The workshop aims to train participants to understand the visual aesthetics of the Halkâr style and to develop their skills in drawing, colouring, and designing a complete decorative panel using this distinctive technique. 

Course Content Includes:

• Historical introduction to the Halkâr style and its aesthetic qualities.
• Practical training in drawing flowers, leaves, and vegetal ornamentation.
• Symmetry and repetition of decorative elements with accuracy.
• Techniques of manual inking and transparent coloring.
• Application of water-gilding and dry-brush gilding.
• Production of a decorative artwork
• Learning Outcomes:
  By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
• Identify and apply the Halkâr style in vegetal ornamentation.
• Use colors and gold with both technical and aesthetic harmony.
• Appreciate the artistic and spiritual depth of traditional Islamic art.

 Learning Objectives for the Halkâr Style Course:

Knowledge-Based Objectives

• Understand the history of the Halkâr style and its origins in Ottoman Islamic ornamentation, supported by references and images of historical works.
• Distinguish the Halkâr style from other ornamentation styles such as floral gilding (tezhip) and Rumi.
• Learn the aesthetic rules of composition in Halkâr: symmetry, repetition, balance, transparent colors, and gilding.

Skill-Based Objectives

• Draw a vegetal decorative unit in the Halkâr style manually using pen and brush.
• Apply gilding techniques with both dry-brush and water-brush methods.
• Practice different coloring techniques using watercolor, acrylic, and gold.
• Create a complete decorative composition that incorporates repetition, symmetry, and visual harmony in the Halkâr style.
• Execute a vegetal decorative unit inspired by the Halkâr style with fine lines (dry-brush technique with gold and colors, and water-brush technique with gold and colors).
• Develop a symmetrical composition using axial or circular symmetry.
• Apply transparent coloring techniques characteristic of Halkâr using watercolors.
• Execute hand gilding using water-gold or dry-gold within the artwork.
• Complete a full decorative panel in the Halkâr style that respects technical, aesthetic, and chromatic balance.

Target age group:

Adults (Ages 16+))
Language: Arabic
Women Only

Course Schedule:

•  Sunday11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (starting 21 September)
  • Total Study Days: 10
  • Total Learning Hours: 20 Hours
  • Tuition Fee: AED 20 per hour (Total: AED 400 for the complete course
  • Frequency: The course is held once a week

Certificate:

Participants will receive a Certificate of Participation from the School of Calligraphy and Ornamentation.
Requirement: Attendance of at least 90% of the total course hours.

School Location:

Al Taif Mall Business Center – 17th Floor – Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

Instructor’s Biography: Haya Obaid Al-Ketbi

Haya Obaid Al-Ketbi is an Emirati artist and a graduate of the United Arab Emirates University, practising Islamic ornamentation since 2008. She has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions, including:
The 30th and 31st Arabic Calligraphy Exhibitions of the Emirates Fine Arts Society. Illuminated Letters Exhibition. Arab Women Calligraphers Exhibition in Geneva (2013). Her solo exhibition The Craft and I (2013). Dubai International Calligraphy Exhibition (2015). Miniatures and Ornamentation Festival in Algeria. Jeddah Visual Arts Exhibition (2011). Gulf Artists Exhibition in Muscat (2012). Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial (2014, 2016, 2018). Istanbul Exhibition with Fatma Öztoprak and her students (2017). Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival (2019). Calligraphers from the Gulf Exhibition (2019). Dubai International Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition (2019). Sharjah Forum for Calligraphy and Ornamentation (2020).Hymn of Gold Exhibition of Islamic Ornamentation (2022). Haya continues advanced studies in Islamic ornamentation through the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA, Turkey). She has served on juries for prestigious competitions, including the Al Burda Award (2021) and the Islamic Ornamentation Competition in Fujairah (2023). Haya continues advanced studies in Islamic ornamentation through the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA, Turkey). She has served on juries for prestigious competitions, including the Al Burda Award (2021) and the Islamic Ornamentation Competition in Fujairah (2023). She has also received several awards, including: 3rd place, Al Owais Award for Creativity (2010). 2nd place, Emirates Women Award for Literature and Arts. 2nd place, Al Owais Award for Arabic Calligraphy (2013 & 2019).

تتبع هيا دراسات متقدمة في فن الزخرفة الإسلامية من خلال مركز الأبحاث للتاريخ والفنون والثقافة الإسلامية (إرسيكا – تركيا)، وقد شغلت عضوية لجان تحكيم في مسابقات مرموقة، مثل جائزة البُردة (2021)، ومسابقة الزخرفة الإسلامية بالفجيرة (2023). من الجوائز التي حصلت عليها: المركز الثالث في جائزة العويس للإبداع (2010)، المركز الثاني في جائزة الإمارات للمرأة في الآداب والفنون، والمركز الثاني في جائزة العويس للخط العربي (2013 و2019).

Terms and Conditions

• The fee includes all learning hours and materials that will be provided during the in-person course.
• Fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.
• Attendance at the dates specified on this page is mandatory
• Please note that no make-up sessions are available