Golden Flower Art Challenge March 2023

I can’t believe it has been seven years since my conversation with friend Samira Mian about starting this challenge. Indeed where does the time go, but wow, I am happy this has continued and I am looking forward to inshallah making it to the 10th year even!!

In all honesty, I have a lot of life things happening at the moment and as I mentioned in the newsletter, I have moved countries yet again and I was so close of taking a pause from this as well, but then I saw the most gorgeous Quran in the Sharjah Museum of Islamic civilisation in their temporary exhibition: Sacred Words: Timeless Calligraphy Highlights From The Hamid Jafar Collection.

I saw it and I knew the challenge is back on track, though a little more spaced out than the previous years. Each chapter of the beautiful Quran is written in the shape of a flower, which is a marvel.

So, I chose seven chapters/flowers and you will get two days to complete each flower than the usual one day. That way we all have time and it will cross with the start of Ramadan as well, but hopefully it will give you time to prepare yourself.

By the way, if you are not familiar with this challenge let me tell you more about. This is the seventh year of the annual challenge and it’s basically a free community activity, where I provide you with flower templates to paint to improve your brush-work skills and colour selection for 14 days. It is also a nice way to welcome the beautiful Spring season with all the flowers that will blossom soon.

Floral motifs have a very important role within Islamic patterns and you can see them highlighted beautifully in the Safavid, Ottoman, Mughal & Qajar periods. They were used before and after those periods as well, but my favourite examples come from those three.

Image from 2022 golden flower challenge:

Join me from Wednesday 15th March for 14 days

(until the 27th of March) to paint one flower every two days.

If you can't make time on these dates you can still join when it's good for you. I will still come have a look if you mention me or tag me.

The source of all flowers is a stunning Quran

Transcribed by Ali Akbar Al-Taliqani in Iran or Iraq in the Qajar period of 1881. It is known as Ghubari script and it is 30-album-page, ink & gold on paper measuring 23.6cm high and 17cm wide.

The selected pages and notice that the “shading” of the flower is actually the verses texts! Isn’t that just another level of creativity?

Below are the floral templates you can paint. Either by following the originals above or by developing your own painting style. Click to enlarge and save or print. Each flower should take you two days to complete, so try to be patient and don’t speed up heheh.

How to download these images?

  • Screen shot

  • Right click and save

  • Redraw it from screen

  • Google other ways.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a personal challenge and it should not be used for commercial gain. You can keep, gift or donate your paintings. You will need a permission from the owner of the Quran for commercial use since they own the copyrights.

How to paint the flowers?

First thing you want to do is trace the design in pencil and then transfer it to a watercolour paper by turning the tracing paper onto the pencil side and trace again.

Once you have your design you can paint it in anyway you want:

  • I usually start with one layer of colours or gold

  • then outline the design in black ink and a brush

  • Then add secondary colours or shading.

You can do it however you want and I will be sharing process images on instagram if you want to do the same.

Art Supplies for the Golden Flower challenge: 

I highly recommend using what you already have at home, but if you really want to get something new or want to use the same things I will be using then checkout these recommendations below. You don’t have to buy new art supplies if you already have some. Always try to use what you have. You can also check your local art supply store for deals and other options.

Tools: Printed Flower Design, Tracing Paper, Pencils, brushes,  real gold or gouache gold, watercolours and/or gouache colours.

Share your golden flowers & find other participants on social media!  

Share your completed flower on instagram or Facebook and please tag me on @islamicillumination and add these hashtags so we can all find each other! #GoldenFlowerChallenge2023 #GFC23

You can also copy this caption if you like: 

This flower is part of the #GoldenFlowerChallenge2023 #GFC23 by Dr. Esra Alhamal @islamicillumination
We are painting one flower every two days for 14 days to practice our painting and illumination skills.
You can participate too by visiting www.islamicillumination.com   

Benefits of this Art challenge: 

  • Understand the floral language in Persian biomorphic patterns.

  • Practice your painting skills.

  • Practice ink and brush outlining.

  • Satisfy your soul with some art! (A golden flower a day keeps the doctor away?)

Things you can do with your flower: 

  • Turn them into a card
    and give them to your friends and family for all the upcoming occasions (perfect for the upcoming Eid!)

  • Hang them in your house
    I am sure any house would use a series of sparkly flowers!

  • Add them to other creative projects
    Golden flowers are so versatile and you can find some use for them or include them in other creative projects.

If you loved this challenge and want to improve your illumination skills further, you can join one of the recorded courses:

Islamic Illumination Painting Basics
£60.00
One time

Biomorphic Pattern Analysis Course
£120.00
One time

A Pattern Tour of Uzbekistan with Esra and Samira
A Pattern Tour of Uzbekistan with Esra and Samira
£120.00

This course was taught live online and it is now available as a recording. This is a digital download purchase therefore nonrefundable.

You will receive a download link as soon as your purchase this course and it is only valid for 24 hours, so please download it as soon as you get it. The link includes all the recording links and Pdfs.

In this series, we revisit Uzbekistan virtually, by drawing & painting some of the beautiful patterns we saw on our trip to Uzbekistan in 2019. As well as guiding you through the geometry & biomorphic drawings, the live sessions will be enriched with a few travel photos, videos and stories from a most excellent adventure in this beautiful country.

When you buy this course, you will get all the patterns from all the four cities (Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand) along with recordings and pdfs.

You will learn:

  • The Tashkent Sessions (4 hours): The construction of the beautiful 12/8 pattern from a Metro Station in Tashkent along with a second more conventional variation from the Old City of Tashkent with Samira and the free-hand biomorphic drawings that fill the geometric shapes with Esra.

  • The Khiva Sessions (4 hours): Two sets of eight-fold patterns from the Summer Palace of the Kuhna Ark.

  • The Bukhara Sessions (4 hours): 12/8 pattern found in many different locations, the arch construction and composition with Samira and free-hand biomorphic elements within the geometry & the spiralling motifs above the arch with Esra.

  • The Samarkand Sessions (4 hours): Tenfold rosette pattern with tapered petals with Samira. Then the biomorphs for it along with a circular design with Esra. All of these patterns can be found in the Registan Complex of Samarkand.

Suitable for:

Intermediate level geometers with experience of drawings and participants aged 16+.

If you are a beginner and would like to enrol, we suggest you practise plenty before the start of course to make sure you are better prepared. Try working through Five & Tenfold patterns or Twelvefold Islamic Geometric Rosettes.

Tools needed for this course:

Tools needed for drawing the geometry:

  • A3 & A4 smooth paper;

  • A compass;

  • 30cm transparent ruler;

  • 2H & 2B pencil;

  • Fineliner pens;

  • Tracing paper;

  • Masking tape

Tools needed for drawing the biomorphs:

  • Drawing from session 1

  • Tracing Paper (2 A4 sheets), you will need that for the drawing stage. You can use baking paper instead!

  • Sharp HB pencil

  • Fine Eraser pen

  • Masking tape

Please make sure you have the tools/equipment needed to participate. For recommendations visit

www.samiramian.uk/equipment or https://www.islamicillumination.com/blog/paints-papers-brushes-for-islamic-illumination

Cancellation Policy

This is an instant digital download therefore nonrefundable.

Mamluk Manuscript Elements with Esra and Samira - Recorded
Mamluk Manuscript Elements with Esra and Samira - Recorded
£80.00

PLEASE NOTE THIS LISTING IS FOR THE RECORDING - you are welcome to purchase the course and get the recording links and 2 pdfs as an instant download.

Inspired by the beauty of patterns found in the pages of Martin Lings book, Samira and I found beauty and details in similar patterns that appealed to their different aesthetics and interests. Samira was drawn to the small details of geometry in titles and on the Frontispieces. Whilst I was appreciating the curves and symmetry of the stylised floral motifs within the different geometric shapes as well those that elevating whole pages with ornate borders. From these conversations, this course was born.

Samira will take you through a step by step the construction of two patterns exclusively for these zoom sessions. Each will be accompanied by a step by step PDF for you to use during or after the sessions.

I will guide you with the free hand drawings that will be filling the geometric spaces and she will introduce you to a simple biomorphic border that will frame the piece along with pointers on painting and outlining. 

Suitable for:

Intermediate level geometers with experience of drawings  and participants aged 16+.

If you are a beginner and would like to enrol, we suggest you practise plenty before the start of course to make sure you are better prepared. Try working through Five & Tenfold patterns or Twelvefold Islamic Geometric Rosettes.  We will work at a pace aimed at intermediate level geometers, however if it is difficult to keep up do try to have the geometry PDF step by step guide to hand and remember you can always continue after the session following the recordings.

The biomorphic pattern day would be suitable to most. It depends on your comfort level drawing curved lines and basic flowers.

Tools needed for this session:

Please make sure you have these tools to be able to join in with the workshop activities. Please do visit www.samiramian.uk/equipment or https://www.islamicillumination.com/blog/paints-papers-brushes-for-islamic-illumination for recommendations.

For Sessions 1 & 2: 

  • A3 & A4 smooth paper

  • A compass

  • 30cm transparent ruler

  • 2H & 2B pencil

  • Fineliner pens

  • Tracing paper 

For Session 3 & 4:

 Booking & payment

Booking the course is possible via this listing (click buy below) or via Samira’s website. Please only do one purchase!

Cancellation Policy

This listing is instantly downloadable, so no cancellation or a refund will be accepted.

For more fun challenges and future announcements, please sign up to my monthly newsletter, where you will get notified about all my upcoming workshops, art plans and all my inspiring arty related things!

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