This course introduces participants to the fundamental principles of classical calligraphic and ornamental composition as found in traditional manuscript arts. Throughout the history of Islamic art, the relationship between calligraphy and ornament has played a central role in the visual culture of manuscripts, where text and decoration combine to create balanced and harmonious compositions.
The workshop explores the structural principles that guide the relationship between written text and decorative elements within the page. Participants will learn how classical compositions are organized and how ornamental elements interact with calligraphy to achieve visual harmony.
Students will be introduced to the main components of a decorated manuscript page, including the central text area, ornamental borders, and margins. The course also examines important design concepts such as symmetry, rhythm, balance, and repetition, which form the foundation of traditional ornamental structures.
Through guided demonstrations and practical exercises, participants will practice drawing simple floral ornamental motifs commonly used in manuscript illumination. They will learn how to incorporate these motifs into structured decorative compositions surrounding a calligraphic text.
By the end of the course, participants will create a small calligraphic ornamental composition that reflects the classical principles of traditional manuscript design.
The course aims to introduce participants to the foundational principles of classical calligraphic and ornamental composition within traditional manuscript arts. Students will gain an understanding of how decorated manuscript pages are structured and how calligraphy and ornament function together as a unified visual system.
Participants will explore essential design principles such as balance, symmetry, rhythm, and repetition, which form the structural basis of traditional ornamentation. They will also learn how floral motifs are constructed and how these elements can be integrated into ornamental compositions.
Through practical exercises, students will develop the ability to organize visual elements within a defined space, plan decorative borders, and create balanced compositions around a calligraphic element.
By the end of the course, participants will gain a foundational understanding of how classical ornamental compositions are constructed in traditional manuscript arts. They will be able to identify the structural elements of a decorated page and understand how calligraphy and ornament interact within a balanced visual framework.
Participants will develop basic skills in drawing simple floral ornamental motifs and organizing them within structured decorative compositions. They will also gain experience in planning ornamental borders and distributing decorative elements around a central calligraphic text.
The final outcome of the workshop will be a completed small-scale calligraphic ornamental composition reflecting the principles introduced during the course. Participants will leave with both a finished artwork and a clearer understanding of the compositional logic behind traditional ornamental art.
Language: Arabic
Schedule: Mondays | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Duration: 6 Sessions
Total Hours: 18 Hours
Course Fee: 360 AED
Workshop Dates:
April: 6, 13, 20, 27
May: 4, 11
Namareq Ali is an artist and researcher specializing in traditional Islamic arts, with a particular focus on illumination and manuscript ornamentation. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Traditional Arts and Book Arts, where her research explores the historical development of illumination and the structure of ornamentation in manuscripts across Islamic cultures.
Her artistic practice is grounded in the study of historical manuscripts and the analysis of the compositional systems that govern traditional ornament. This includes floral elements, patterns of repetition and rhythm, and the visual relationship between calligraphy and ornament within decorated pages.
She also has experience in developing educational programs and workshops that introduce the fundamentals of traditional ornamentation and manuscript arts to beginners and enthusiasts. Her teaching approach combines historical knowledge with practical application.
Through her artistic and academic work, she aims to promote awareness of traditional arts and provide a deeper understanding of the aesthetic and historical richness of Islamic ornamentation.
360,00 AED
14 in stock
