Introduction to Tezhip
Tezhip is the Turkish word meaning “ornamenting with gold” and is used to represent the Ottoman tradition of beautifying calligraphy...

Time & Location
Mar 16, 2021, 7:00 PM
Online
Course Details
Tezhip is the Turkish word meaning “ornamenting with gold” and is used to represent the Ottoman tradition of beautifying calligraphy. Renowned professor of Tezhip, Dr. Çiçek Derman, once said, “If the aim of the Hattat (calligrapher) is to write the Holy Qur’an in his best handwriting, the aim of the Tezhip artist is to illuminate it to express what is in their heart.” In the Introduction to Tezhip class, students will be exploring the basic techniques and materials used by Tezhip artists.
Fatma Ulusoy Hoca has been studying Tezhip with Tezhip master Ayşe Gülcan Özbalak since 2015. Her work has adorned the compositions of several master calligraphers and she has participated in multiple tezhip exhibitions.
Introduction to Tezhip
General Curriculum:
Week 1: Border patterns
Week 2: Circular border patterns
Week 3: Staining and preparing paper
Week 4: Munhani motifs – drawing and transferring
Week 5: Painting munhani
Week 6: Leaf motifs and brushstrokes
Week 7: Hatai motifs and brushstrokes
Week 8: Sazyolu motifs
Week 9: Transferring motifs and haklar painting technique
Week 10: Creating a halkar work
Week 11: Preparing gold
Week 12: Classic tezhip design
Week 13: Şemse (shem-se) motifs
Week 14: Gold shading and contouring
The motifs and skills will be introduced and practiced once; mastery will come later when one joins the Şah Kulu Tezhip Apprenticeship Program. All projects in the Introduction to Tezhip class must be