Islamic Illumination, tazhib, is an art practiced in many parts of the Muslim world for over a millennium. Tazhib is derived from zahab, which means gold in Arabic. Tazhib was primarily used to decorate manuscripts, a practice which still continues today in parts of the Islamic world. Nowadays, tazhib is usually practiced in conjunction with calligraphy. Illuminators use small brushes to create a wide variety of motifs from crushed gold, gouache, watercolor, and natural pigments. In this workshop, students will be introduced to the material and techniques of this traditional art.

Lecture and presentation:

Short background on the book arts

How and why Illumination started

Materials and tools used

Practical:

Practice painting and outlining using a small brush

Practice a painting techniques with imitation gold

Each artist will paint a design using this technique.

Age requirement: 15+

Maximum Students: 10

11am-5pm (1hr lunch break)

Registration has to be done in advance so materials can be purchased accordingly.

No pictures or video is allowed during the workshop