What Is Islamic Geometric Design?

Within the sacred spaces and books of Islam, a cohesive ornamental design tradition developed across the Islamic world from Spain to India over a period of more than a millennium. Like many other sacred and ornamental design traditions, it’s roots were in Euclidean geometry and it’s expressions flowered into a rich and dynamic visual language which manifested in a vast range of material applications. Many inspiring historical examples still exist across this region and provide a basis for decoding this artform. I find it hugely rewarding to study these examples as a launchpad for the exploration of new possibilities within the artform.

Islamic Geometric Design is a contemporary Western term used in an art history context and is  too limited to convey the nuance of an artform which developed across a vast expanse of time and place. However it is useful as a loose umbrella term to describe this expansive artform.

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Teaching Structure

I find analogue drawing to be the most direct and immersive way of interacting with visual concepts, so I focus my teaching on ruler and compass construction of geometric structures and patterns. These tools have been used for thousands of years. The interface is so direct (eye > hand > drawing tools > drawing surface > eye) that you can develop a more intimate understanding of what you’re exploring visually.

I invite you to join me via the following study options:


Self-Paced Courses

My juiciest research and freshest patterns are in these courses. They are designed to be worked through at your own pace and there will be courses for a range of abilities. With all courses you get:

  • Unlimited access to instructional videos
  • Discord study & discussion group for each course
  • Monthly live Zoom drawing surgery
  • PDF handouts

Join along for the ride and you will find many of the courses build on each other to open the door to a vast world of pattern exploration.

Live Zoom Classes

At least 6 times a year all subscribers can join a live zoom class where we will draw a geometric design together from start to finish. The classes will be approximately 2 hours. Recordings of these classes will be available to paid subscribers.


PDF Handouts

As a visual communicator, the handouts I create to supplement my classes are something I take great care over. You can expect high quality handouts with all classes (live and pre-recorded) and I will occasionally offer standalone PDF guides.


Monthly Zoom Surgery

All subscribers on the Tesseract membership and anyone taking a course can attend a live online monthly drawing surgery. You will be able to send your questions in advance and they can cover anything relevant to the taught materials in both live and self-paced classes.


Discord Study & Discussion Groups

I believe that a forum for discussion, support and deeper collective exploration outside the main teaching mode is an enriching part of any learning experience. My Discord server, available to paid subscribers and course participants, will provide a supportive space to share and discuss material from the classes I teach with other participants and myself. 

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Which tools & materials do I need?

Essential

Pencils - A range of hardnesses to draw different weight lines. I recommend 4H for construction lines and no softer than HB for pattern lines. Anything softer can result in a lot of smudging.

Ruler / straight edge - I prefer steel but plastic has the advantage of being transparent.

Compass - A 6 inch spring bow compass is ideal. This thorough guide to drawing instruments by Alan Adams is worth reading to help you choose your tools, and this one to help you set them up and take care of them.

Paper - Individual sheets of A4 or A3 (or your closest available size) drawing paper of your choice. A flat opening sketchbook is also suitable. You may find that a book which doesn’t lie flat may introduce inaccuracies in your drawing.

Colour pencils - for highlighting aspects of the drawings.

Dividers - I strongly recommend having pair of dividers, which are similar to a compass but with two points instead of one point and one graphite lead. If you don’t have a dedicated pair of dividers but you do have a second compass, you can swap the lead for a second steel point. These are useful in many ways which I will demonstrate. 

Tracing paper - We will occasionally use this to separate out parts of a drawing. You may also need some removable/masking tape to secure it.

Optional

Fineliners - In a range of thicknesses. I like the Sakura Pigma Micron range.

Coloured pens - Useful for annotating or for differentiating stages of construction.

Universal adaptor - this is an attachment that will allow you to use different pens with your compass. Some compass sets come with one.