Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Dates: 23 October '25 | 30 October '25 | 13 November '25 | 20 November '25 | 27 November '25 | 4 December '25

Square Kufic, also known as Masonry Script or khatt banna’i, is a specifically central Asian style developed for brick walls or tile revetments, often on a monumental scale. Yet it is equally at home at the much smaller size of paper or textiles, and even, today, in the tiny canvas of pixel art. It is unique among calligraphy styles in that it adds to artistry a dimension of puzzle-solving.

In this online course, we will learn the rules and principles of Square Kufic, how to compose by manipulating the letters and using rotations to fill a surface or to create a repeating pattern. From the basic square grid, we will move to variations in grid proportions and shape, including three-dimensional effects and circular compositions, opening up the creative potential of this technique. The first two sessions are foundational, covering the history, iterations, principles and letterforms of Square Kufic. The rest of the sessions are dedicated to working with one type of grid each and creating a practice design in it.

Experience needed: None. Prior knowledge of the Arabic alphabet is helpful but not required.

Materials needed (we will send links when you book onto the course to buy the recommended items):

1. Grid paper: For this style we need a very basic grid of 5mm squares. This is provided as a printable digital file or you can buy a pad. If you can get A3 size, you’ll have a lot more freedom to work.
2. Plain paper. Same note about A3.
3. Pencil & eraser
4. A ruler
5. Optional but incredibly handy: Pilot Frixion Erasable Highlighters. These broad pens make sketching in the grid very simple, and they can be rubbed out when dry so designs can be revised without having to start over. They run out fairly quickly though so you’ll need 2 or 3.
6. A compass (to draw circles) and a protractor (to measure angles).
7. Note: You can work digitally if you prefer, provided you’re self-sufficient in that medium.

Times: 6 to 8pm weekly. Note that zoom courses are recorded so if you have to miss a session you’ll be able to watch it before the next one. There may be light homework between sessions.

Breakdown of sessions:

Session 1: Historical overview, principles of Square Kufic and types of compositions. Start learning the letter shapes.

Session 2: Finish letters. Discuss bad examples. Start practicing with the contained type.

Session 3: Working with rotational compositions.

Session 4: Working with a skewed grid and creating a three-dimensional effect.

Session 5: A different approach: Working with a diamond grid.

Session 6: Working with a circular composition.

Our Refund Policy

Our courses rely on meeting minimum numbers to run, and are often over-subscribed, so the sooner you let us know you’ve changed your mind the better. We can then open your place up to someone else. Our rules on refunds are:

100% refund if you let us know up to 2 weeks before the start date of the course

50% refund if you let us know 8-13 days before the start date of the course

No refund if you let us know 1 week or less before the start of the course