Your contribution will allow you to stream a Zoom recording of this class. Suggested contributions of £5, £10, £15 and £20 allow me to continue teaching online.
Indian and Persian miniature paintings utilise the use of Borders.
Understanding & constructing borders can be broken down into the following 'modules'
- Symbolism
- Construction
- Biomorph borders (aka Nabati, or Islimi)
- Knot work
- Flora & Fauna borders (often you will see fauna and flora painted in gold)
- Speckled golden backgrounds
More complex border work will be approached in a module specific for border construction. This specific border class is linked to the Introduction to Persian Miniature series. There is no need to have attended the previous classes in this module, for this session, you can choose to construct and paint a 'study' of a border or you can this element to your existing Persian Miniature Painting*.
In this introductory class you will look at different examples of borders in Persian miniature painting. Learn about the numbers and symbolisms associated with borders and learn to construct a simple and harmonic border for your painting.
Please note, more elaborate border work will be covered in the Borders module.
Everyone is welcome to attend this class without having done any other class previously. If following the Introductory Series, this class is lesson 9.
Please note, more elaborate border work will be covered in the Borders module.
Everyone is welcome to attend this class without having done any other class previously. If following the Introductory Series, this class is lesson 9.
*A border will work on a painting that has been done on A3 paper. It is recommended you work on a study if your painting is on A4 paper.
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REQUIRED equipment & materials
For Beginners:
- Cowrie Shell burnisher: linked one here,
- Handover brushes series 33 (or any other good quality, Kolinsky sable watercolour brush) in sizes 00, 1, 2 and 6/8.
-
00 Brush linked here
Size 1 Brush linked here
Size 2 Brush linked here
Size 8 Brush linked here - A ceramic palette with large wells (linked here) or an old ceramic porcelain/china dinner plate
- 2B, HB and H pencil (0.3 if using mechanical)
- Tracing paper (A4 or 27 × 11.69 inches) linked here
- Ruling pen (optional) linked here
- Masking tape, linked here.
- Compass or geometry kit. For UK, please click here, For US, please click here
- Ruler, linked here
- Eraser / mono-eraser, linked here
- 300gsm hot pressed water colour paper, in A4 or A3, Linked here.
- A4 (8.27 x 11.69 inches) or larger drawing board or hardback book. (A drafting table can be used.)
- Templates (received in email closer to the course date)
- Kitchen towel or old dish cloth
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Gouache in the following recommended colours:
– Indigo (Beginners indigo, click here. For recommended - click here)
– Ultramarine. (Beginners Ultramarine, click here. For recommended - click here)
– Cadmium or Lemon yellow (Beginners Lemon yellow, click here. For recommended - click here)
– Yellow Ochre, click here
– Alizarin Crimson, click here.
– Vermillion or Cadmium Red. (Beginners Vermillion, click here. For recommended - click here)
– Titanium or Zinc white. (For titanium click here. For zinc - click here)
– Black (lamp black or ivory black) click here
– Burnt umber or Red ochre or Sepia, click here
– Oxide of Chromium* (click here)
- Watercolour set* (Generic, Ideally tubes. Linked here)
For more experienced students:
- For paper burnishing, I'd recommend this burnisher or for larger paper, this burnisher.
- For gold work, or burnishing small details, I'd recommend this burnisher
- Readymade, or hand-made gold
- For a small pan, click here
- For medium, click here
- For large, click here
Who is this course for?
All levels of experience and ability welcome.
Is there any preparation?
All participants will receive an email prior to the workshop if preparation is required.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing that you do not mind getting slightly messy. Avoid wearing: Baggy clothing (especially sleeves) and Loose jewellery.
What about natural pigments?
Due to the long preparation, difficult accessibility and toxicity of some natural pigments, we will be using easily attainable, ready-made alternatives for this workshop. Traditional miniatures are compelled using paints derived from minerals, earths and insects. You will be able to achieve a similar result and finish using the recommended colours in the materials list.
