GENERAL INFO:

Subject: Exploring Islamic Illumination

Course Format: Online, 3 hour sessions

Course schedule: Saturdays, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. UTC

June 14 – July 5

Instructor: Farzana Razzaque Hoca

Age Requirements:  13+

Course Fee: $127 

Scholarship Application Form [click to access]

ABOUT THE COURSE

Tezhip is the Turkish word meaning “ornamenting with gold” and represents the Ottoman tradition of beautifying calligraphy. Renowned professor of Tezhip, Dr. Çiçek Derman, once said, “If the aim of the Hattat (calligrapher) is to write the Holy Qur’an in his best handwriting, the Tezhip artist aims to illuminate it to express what is in their heart.”

This course will take an intellectual and hands-on look at how the art of Tezhip is taught formally. The most important aspect of this class is understanding the various techniques used to create a pattern and the fine craftsmanship required to create an art piece with Tezhip. First, students will experience a brief history of Tezhip and look at the different styles used by Tezhip artists.

Next, students will explore elements of Tezhip by looking at the building blocks used to make a simple pattern and implementing those techniques in a pattern they will create. Finally, students will be introduced to some significant pioneers of Tezhip in the past and influential contemporary artists in the field.

• Gouache/Watercolor Paint Set -12 colors minimum (Alternative- color pencils/watercolor brush pens)
• Gold paint (gouache/Coliro Finetec pearl colors/Kuretake Gansai Tambi (Alternative – color pencils)
• Miniature Painting brushes – Sizes 0 and 000 (only required if using paints)
• Mechanical Pencil (Alternative: #2 or HB pencil)
• 4B pencil
• Tracing paper
• Watercolor paper 300 gsm hot or cold press smooth paper (Alternative: printer paper if using color pencils)
• Eraser
• Ruler
• Compass
• Disposable cup and plastic plate or paint well palette (only required if using paints)

Please note that the syllabus may change slightly based on the pace of the students.

• Week 1: Introduction and history of Tezhip. Overview of Tezhip.  Warm-up exercises. Constructing leaves (Yaprak), spirals and flowers (Goncagul and Penc).
• Week 2: Masters of Tezhip in the past. Constructing a simple pattern.
• Week 3: Contemporary Masters of Tezhip. Painting techniques (Hatai, Classic Tezhip, Embossing, contouring).
• Week 4: Completing a pattern (painting and contouring). Analyzing and correcting.

ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTOR

Farzana Razzaque

Farzana Razzaque is a graduate of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin. She has been dedicated to the study of Islamic calligraphy and tezhip (illumination) for over nine years. Farzana Hoca holds ijazahs (authorizations to teach) in the Thuluth and Naskh scripts within the Ottoman tradition, granted by her teachers, Master Calligraphers Haji Noor Deen Hoca and Ahmet Kutluhan Hoca. She has also received ijazahs in Riq‘a, Diwani, and Diwani Jali scripts from Master Calligrapher Shahrayanshah Sirajuddin.

In addition to her calligraphy training, Farzana Hoca continues to study tezhip under the guidance of master tezhip artists Fatma Ulusoy Sirajuddin and Ayşe Gülcan Özbalak. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Dallas, where her research focuses on the evolution of calligraphy and the contemporary mus’haf in South Asia.

Due to limited seating, we request you cancel by May 5, 2025, to receive a full refund.

For inquiries, contact students@deenartsfoundation.org.