Archive for September 2016

My Advice to Aspiring Artists: II. Separating What You Know from What You Are Learning

By: F.K. Art Intern Nimah Bhura

There is never just one way to do something, however, there is a proper way. When studying Arabic calligraphy, I was introduced to about a dozen new scripts. Some of them were completely divergent, while others were more alike. I was already familiar with the standard Arabic script, Naskh, and assumed my calligraphy would be flawless right off the bat. To the contrary, I was in for a surprise.

It quickly became apparent to me that what I had learned and what I was being taught were completely contradictory. I realized that there were major differences, mistakes, that I had been taught to write with. This made it exceedingly strenuous for me to completely master the basic script of Naskh. I had to erase what I had previously learned and teach my hand how to correctly write the script. Although it was hard, it wasn’t impossible; and eventually what I was trying to remember became second nature.

Thus, just because you’ve been taught one way to do something your entire life that doesn’t mean it’s the right way. Always be open to new ideas and critiques of your work. If you can’t accept the bad with the good, you’ll never learn and your work will never improve.

Author’s Bio: I am a High School student just trying to learn more about art. I own 5 galleries and over 100 pieces of my work are featured all over the world— I wish. I am just trying to communicate a message to anyone who will listen, even if that is just my parents

My Advice to Aspiring Artists:

I. How to Deal with Hitting the Wall

By: F.K. Art Intern Nimah Bhura

We all have that one thing we love, that we’re great at. For me, it’s art; I believe I’m a great artist. However, that belief doesn’t hold strong all the time. There is always a process in which people do things. While the activity might differ, the process remains relatively similar.

First, you start by fully believing in yourself; you fantasize the task at hand to be minimally difficult, and you begin. You start the activity; in an artist’s case you may start to paint. After a while you take a step back and realize what you’ve created is complete garbage. There are no polite words that could describe your work. That is when you hit the wall. You’re frustrated, so you start over and come up with new ideas to fix it. In any case, you keep going; you never give up when hit with obstacles. Finally, after the frustration, sweat, and tears, you look back and see a masterpiece. Hitting the wall is pivotal, it separates the good from the great; thus, when you reach that wall don’t turn back, but persist.

Author’s Bio: I am a High School student just trying to learn more about art. I own 5 galleries and over 100 pieces of my work are featured all over the world— I wish. I am just trying to communicate a message to anyone who will listen, even if that is just my parents

Leaf from the Blue Quran showing Sura 30: 28-32, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Blue Qur’an

By: F.K. Art Intern Nimah Bhura

The Qur’an, unlike any other book, is extraordinary. From what it says to how it is written, it encompasses brilliance. Although most people focus on the magnificence of its message, its appearance is equally as striking. The best representation of the Qur’an, is known as the Blue Qur’an. Most scholars agree that it was probably created in North Africa for the Great Mosque of Qairawan.

The writing of the Blue Qur’an is done in Kufic calligraphy, and is written in gold ink on indigo paper. Being about 600 pages, the Qur’an is thought to have been scattered during the Ottoman Empire. Now, most of it resides in the National Institute of Art and Archaeology Bardo National Museum in Tunis. The remaining pages were sold in auctions for over $800,000. The Blue Qur’an, with its unique colors and valuable materials, reminds people of God’s true majesty.

Author’s Bio: I am a High School student just trying to learn more about art. I own 5 galleries and over 100 pieces of my work are featured all over the world— I wish. I am just trying to communicate a message to anyone who will listen, even if that is just my parents

Symmetry in Islamic Art

By: F.K. Art Intern Nimah Bhura

Have you ever looked at a piece of Islamic Art and wondered, “why am I so drawn to this piece”? Islamic Art, especially that which includes calligraphy, is meant to represent absolute beauty and perfection. As it is made for the sake of God, it represents the artist’s love for Him. That beauty is brought to the human eye with the use of symmetry.

Symmetry does not just apply to the format of the calligraphy, but the patterns that are used around or within it. Artists use geometrical patterns made up of an array of shapes to create intricate designs. They distinguished Islamic Art from all other forms of art by duplicating, combining, and interlacing patterns to create extraordinary designs. The complexity of the resulting pattern represents freedom and perpetual growth. Symmetry is one of the defining features of Islamic Art.

Author’s Bio: I am a High School student just trying to learn more about art. I own 5 galleries and over 100 pieces of my work are featured all over the world— I wish. I am just trying to communicate a message to anyone who will listen, even if that is just my parents.

A Calligraphic Panel by Hafiz Othman, Turkey, Dated A.H 1093/A.D. 1681 Done in the Naskh Script

The Naskh Script

By: F.K. Art Intern Nimah Bhura

Have you ever wondered what script the Quran is written in? The Quran’s main purpose is to deliver a message, and in order to do that it must be legible. Therefore, calligraphers most commonly use a script called Naskh when writing the Quran. Naskh is, in many opinions, the easiest script to read, making it a great candidate when choosing a Quranic script.

Naskh literally means “to copy”, which describes the ease and agility in which a calligrapher is able to copy the script. When writing the entire Quran, it is preferable to use a more simplistic text than a more complex one. The script is thought to have been invented by the calligrapher, Ibn Muqlah Shirazi, and replaced the Kufic script. The Naskh script’s legibility is the main reason for its popularity.

Other scripts were also based on the Naskh script. One of them being Nastaliq, a hybrid of the Naskh and Taliq scripts. Nastaliq was originally used in Persia, and eventually in India and Pakistan. It was used to write literature and poetry, instead of Quranic verses. It is one of the most difficult scripts to master, and looks as though the letters are hanging or floating on the page. Every script in Arabic calligraphy is connected because in all of them there are attributes of one another.

Author’s Bio: I am a High School student just trying to learn more about art. I own 5 galleries and over 100 pieces of my work are featured all over the world— I wish. I am just trying to communicate a message to anyone who will listen, even if that is just my parents.

“Allah will Raise up, to (suitable) ranks (And degrees), those of you who believe and those who have Been granted Knowledge.” (58:11) Haji Noor Deen

The Unique Features of Chinese Arabic Calligraphy

By: F.K. Art Intern Nimah Bhura

Whenever you think of absolute brilliance and discipline China instantly comes to mind. China is known for producing exceptional leaders, artists, engineers, etc. Chinese people have an uncommon discipline that is displayed in their work. In particular, the Arabic calligraphy produced by Chinese calligraphers, such as Haji Noor Deen, exhibits extreme talent and beautiful flow.

The script commonly used to describe the calligraphy produced from China is called the Sini script. The Sini script is traditionally quite thick and rounded. It is similar to a regular Chinese script in the way that it flows on the page. Today, the script is used when making tasmiya placards in eastern China. The Sini script was adapted from other Chinese calligraphic forms and is unique in that it is written with a brush to achieve its thick and tapered look.

Author’s Bio: I am a High School student just trying to learn more about art. I own 5 galleries and over 100 pieces of my work are featured all over the world— I wish. I am just trying to communicate a message to anyone who will listen, even if that is just my parents.

A close-up of the Kiswa covering the Kaba

The Kiswa

By: F.K. Art Intern Nimah Bhura

It’s remarkable how millions of people travel to the see the Ka’ba every day, but very few recognize the calligraphy inscribed on it. The Ka’ba is the most famous landmark in the Islamic world, covered with a black cloth or a kiswa, it represents the house of God. Located on the kiswa is a belt inscribed with the following phrase: “Oh Allah, there is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Most Loving, the Benefactor. Glory be to Allah and Praise be to Allah and Glory is to Allah the Great.” Directly below the belt are verses of the Quran written in separate frames, along with Surat Iklas written into circles at each corner. In between the areas of the frames are lamps, within which praises of Allah are written. The kiswa is and will always remain to be one of the most intricate and stunning works of Islamic calligraphy the world has ever seen.

Author’s Bio: I am a High School student just trying to learn more about art. I own 5 galleries and over 100 pieces of my work are featured all over the world— I wish. I am just trying to communicate a message to anyone who will listen, even if that is just my parents.