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.

Course tickets cost £230 and can be purchased via Stripe here.

For full course terms and conditions please visit our Courses page.

About Joumana Medlej

Joumana Medlej is an artist from Lebanon whose connection with early Arabic calligraphy was awakened by years spent working with master calligrapher Samir Sayegh in his Beirut studio. She specialises in the Kufi scripts, roughly corresponding to the Abbasid era, and in the materials of the time, having abandoned store-bought paints for the old ways of natural colour-making. She studies both scripts and art technology directly from primary sources, and is now drawing on her practitioner’s experience to translate medieval Arabic manuals and bring the voices of past masters to a general audience. 

Joumana has pieces in private and public collections from California to the Middle East. She teaches Kufi calligraphy at the Arab British Centre and related workshops in various institutions.