Workshop: Celebrate Earth Day with İznik Tile Painting | The Tree of Life
Date: Tuesday, 22 April 2025
Time: 6 – 9 pm
Duration: 3 hours
Fee: £45 (includes all materials)
Class Size: Min. 6 – Max.12 Students
Instructor: Nagihan Seymour
Location: 10 Maple Street W1T 5HA (Nearest tube stations: Warren Street and Goodge Street)
Entry Requirements
You must be 16+ to attend the course.
Suitable for all levels, and the course price includes all materials.
Students are required to complete the form to register successfully.
Course Overview
Celebrate Earth Day with our İznik Tile Painting Workshop, inspired by the timeless Tree of Life motif in İznik ceramics. Led by renowned traditional arts expert Nagihan Seymour, this workshop will take you on a journey through the history and art of traditional İznik ceramics, focusing on nature-inspired patterns and their connection to Ottoman aesthetics and philosophy.
İznik pottery, named after the town of İznik in western Anatolia, flourished between the 15th and 17th centuries. The intricate floral and nature motifs of İznik ceramics, including the iconic Tree of Life, symbolized vitality, growth, and the harmony of nature. The motif has been widely used on Ottoman architectural tiles, ceramics, and manuscripts, reflecting an artistic appreciation of the natural world.
During this workshop, you will first be introduced to all materials and their uses. After familiarizing yourself with traditional painting techniques, you will transfer the pattern and paint your own İznik tile, adorned with elements of the Tree of Life. Your finished piece will be glazed and kiln-fired, ready for collection from the Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London.
Assessment / Outcome
Participants will receive feedback throughout the workshop and complete their own painted tile. Following the class, the instructor will glaze and fire the finished works in a kiln. The attendees will be able to collect their work from the Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London once they are ready.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please understand, whilst every care is taken in firing your work, ceramics can be subject to cracking during firing.
Methods of Teaching
The course will be taught using the traditional educational model of İznik ceramic workshops, which has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
Required Equipment & Materials
All materials will be provided by the Institute.
Disclaimer
- 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.
- 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/ workshop 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.
- Applicants can withdraw their application without incurring any charges up until the commencement date of the workshop. No refunds will be issued for withdrawals made after the day of the workshop.
- 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.
