Tezhip Course: Master the Art of Calligraphy Decoration – A Hands-On Journey From Gold Leaf to Glorious Illumination
In Person | All Levels
Date: Mondays, 7th April – 23th June 2025 ***
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 pm (UK time)
Duration: 9 weeks
Fee: £285 (includes all materials)
Class Size: Min. 5 – Max.15 Students
Instructor: Nagihan Seymour
Location: 10 Maple Street W1T 5HA
(Nearest tube stations: Warren Street and Goodge Street)
***Please be aware that there will be no classes on April 21st, May 5th, and May 26th due to Bank Holidays.
Entry Requirements
You must be 16+ to attend the course.
Students are required to complete the form to register successfully.
Whether you are an aspiring artist, a lover of traditional arts, or simply curious about Ottoman culture, this course is perfect for you.
Course Overview
In this 9-week in-person course, students will decorate an original calligraphy piece created by a professional calligrapher, in the traditional method from start to nish. Each student will work with a “hat” calligraphy piece prepared and written on ahar paper by Hattat Hanifi Dursun and Serdar Türken, provided by Yunus Emre Institute. Students will explore the traditional techniques of preparing paper for calligraphy and illumination (tezhip) and learn how to prepare gold from gold leaves to use in Tezhip.
This course plan provides a comprehensive journey from raw materials to a fully decorated calligraphy piece. Each week builds on the last, ensuring that by the end of the course, participants have both a theoretical understanding and practical experience in calligraphy decoration.
During the course, artist Nagihan Seymour will demonstrate the decoration of a calligraphy piece provided by a professional calligrapher.
Each student will have their own calligraphy “hat” piece, prepared and written by Hattat Hanifi Dursun and Serdar Türken, to decorate in traditional methods from A to Z.
Methods of Teaching
The course will be taught according to the traditional training and the educational model used in Istanbul, which has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years.
Assessment & Certification
Students will receive hand-out at the beginning of the course about the terms used in this art and feedback throughout the duration of the course to track improvement.
A digital certificate of attendance or completion will be issued at the end of the course upon request via email.
Required Equipment & Materials
Most of the materials will be provided by the Institute. However, students will need to bring:
- Painting palette
- Eraser
- Mechanical pencil (0.5 mm)
- Size 0 and Size 000 Winsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable Watercolour Brush (Please note that it is not miniature series. Miniature brushes are not suitable for this style of painting)
Course Policies and Guidelines
- The course is primarily taught in English, but some terminology may be in Turkish. Your instructor will clarify any terms or concepts as needed during the class.
- Some classes may require specific equipment or materials. Please check the course requirements beforehand to ensure you have everything you need to fully participate.
- For your safety and comfort, we recommend avoiding wearing loose clothing, especially items with large cuffs and neckties, during classes.
- While the Cultural Institute strives to maintain a safe learning environment, students are reminded that they are solely responsible for the security of their personal belongings. The Institute assumes no liability for any loss or damage to personal items incurred during course activities.
- The Cultural Institute endeavors to maintain a conducive learning environment by ensuring that courses meet a minimum enrollment. If this requirement is not met by the end of the registration period, the Institute reserves the right to cancel the course one day prior to its scheduled start. In such cases, any course fees paid by enrolled students will be promptly refunded in full. Refunds will be processed to the student’s designated bank account, unless the course was purchased online, in which case refunds will be issued via PayPal.
- Classes may be subject to cancellation or rescheduling based on unforeseen circumstances. We will make every effort to notify you in advance and offer alternative arrangements if possible. We advise students to keep two weeks free from the course end date.
- Applicants can withdraw their application without incurring any charges up until the commencement date of the course. Withdrawals made after the course has started will incur a 25% administration fee, deducted from any refundable amount. No refunds will be issued for withdrawals made after the completion of two weeks of course instruction.
- Photography and videos may be taken during classes for archival and promotional purposes. Your participation in the class implies consent for us to use these materials. If you prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please inform your instructor.
- Your feedback is valuable to us. If you have any suggestions or concerns regarding the class structure or content, please feel free to discuss them with your instructor, the administrative staff or the coordinator at londra@yee.org.tr
By enrolling in the course, students acknowledge their understanding and acceptance of the aforementioned terms and conditions.
