FOUNDING COHORT I · SUMMER 2026
Foundations of Islamic Calligraphy: An Introduction to the Thuluth Script
A six-week online program dedicated to the history, culture, and deep anatomy of the Thuluth script. Learn to read master panels, distinguish artistic styles, and appreciate Islamic calligraphy from the inside out. Weekly live demonstrations with optional practice. Open to all.
Founding rate for the first cohort · Limited places
THULUTH SCRIPT
The crown of the tradition
Thuluth sits at the summit of Islamic calligraphy. It is the script chosen for mosque inscriptions and imperial decrees, and for the great panels you walk past in museums. Most people admire those panels without ever knowing what they are looking at. They couldn't name the script, let alone read it.This course is about changing that. Over six weeks you will learn to see Islamic calligraphy the way the people who make it do. You will come to recognise the different scripts, understand how the letters are constructed, and read what a panel actually says. If you want to take up the reed pen and try the forms yourself, you can, and I will show you how.
An honest word
Let me be clear about what this is and is not. It will not make you a calligrapher. That takes years of practice, the slow apprenticeship of copying a master's hand until your own begins to obey, and I won't pretend a short course is a shortcut.What it gives you instead is literacy in this art. You will read a script and place its period and style. You will understand the choices behind a composition, the decisions most viewers never notice. It is a real skill, and most people who love this art never acquire it. By the end you will look at a panel and understand it, not just admire it.
This course is for you if you are…
Who it's for
The admirer. You love this art and want to understand it from within.The reader. You want to read the scripts, not only admire them.The guide. You lead others through this culture, or love learning it yourself.The future student. You may go on to deeper study of the traditional arts.The beginner. You don't need to speak Arabic; recognising the letters is enough, and even that we build from the ground up.
What you'll learn
Six weeks · two tracks side by side
Every week has two halves, and the whole course is built on the balance between them. On one side, the practice: how the letters are actually formed, shown by hand, stroke by stroke. On the other, the theory: how to read a panel, tell the scripts apart, and see the choices a master makes.You watch the hand at work and learn to read what it produces. If you want to pick up the reed pen and try the forms yourself, you can, but you never have to.
THE PROGRAMME
| Week | PRACTICE · the hand | THEORY · the eye & mind |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Pen, Introduction to Writing, the Dot (Nuqta) Measurement System, and Isolated Letters | The History of Arabic Script and its Religious Background |
| 2 | Letter Combinations of ب-ج (Bā’ - Jīm) | Al-Aqlam al-Sittah (The Six Pens), Different Calligraphy Styles, and a Guide to Distinguishing Between Them |
| 3 | Letter Combinations of س-ص (Sīn - Ṣād) | An In-Depth Look at Calligraphy Materials: The History and Stories of Paper, Ink, etc. |
| 4 | Letter Combinations of ط-ع (Ṭā’ - ‘Ayn) | Prominent Calligraphers and Their Artworks |
| 5 | Letter Combinations of ف-ك (Fā’ - Kāf) | A Guide to Reading and Deciphering a Calligraphic Artwork. |
| 6 | Letter Combinations of م-ه (Mīm - Hā’) | Composition (Istif) in Calligraphy: Design Stages and Preparation |
The System
How it works
6 Weekly Live Sessions
90 mins, recorded for lifetime access.Live Hand Demonstrations
See exactly how letters are formed.
Self-Paced Practice & Class Notes
Zero homework stress, practice at your own pace.Optional Finishing Project
Turn your name into art & get personal feedback.
WHO AM I
Your instructor
Yasin Giray Demir is a professional calligrapher trained in the classical Ottoman tradition, holding an MA degree in Traditional Islamic Arts. With over 7 years of specialized practice in the Thuluth script under master calligraphers, his work deeply explores the craft, history, and rigorous discipline behind the letters. For the past three years, he has been sharing these insights with enthusiasts worldwide through his blog, Notes on Paper.As an educator with a decade of experience in English language teaching, Yasin bridges the gap between traditional Eastern lineage and modern Western pedagogy. Over the last 5 years, he has brought Islamic calligraphy to the digital space, virtually mentoring more than 100 students globally.This art is rarely taught in English from within its own lineage. That is the gap this course is meant to fill.
COHORT I · SUMMER 2026
The Details
DATES ── July 18 – August 22, 2026 (Six Saturdays)
TIME ── 19:00 Istanbul (12:00 NY · 17:00 LDN · 20:00 Gulf)
FORMAT ── Live Online + Recordings (In English)
INVESTMENT ── $149 USD ($249) (Founding Rate)
HAVE QUESTIONS?
FAQ
Do I need to read or write Arabic?
No, full proficiency in Arabic is not required. While having a basic familiarity with the Arabic alphabet (being able to recognize the shapes of the letters) is highly recommended and will help you progress faster, it is by no means a strict prerequisite. If you cannot read or write the script at all, you will still gain immense value from the course, as we break down the structure, history, and anatomy of the letters from the ground up.Do I have to attend live?
No. Every session is recorded and yours to keep. Many students will follow entirely on their own schedule; the live session is a bonus, not a requirement.What if the time zone doesn’t suit me?
The recordings solve this completely. You lose nothing by watching the sessions later at your own convenience.How long will I have access to the recordings?
You will have lifetime access. Once you enroll, the session recordings are yours to keep and revisit whenever you need a refresher.Will this make me a calligrapher, or give an ijaza?
No — and we say so plainly. This is a true, structured introduction. If you want to go further, the final session points you to the real path and traditional lineage.What materials do I need?
A reed pen (qalam), calligraphy ink, and suitable (glossy/coated) paper. Please note that I do not provide or ship materials. Immediately upon registration, you will receive a comprehensive, curated list of recommended materials and trusted worldwide suppliers where you can easily source everything you need online or locally.Is there any required homework or project?
No, there are no mandatory weekly assignments or submissions. You are welcome to follow the demonstrations and practice entirely at your own pace. However, for those who wish to receive direct guidance, practicing is highly encouraged, and you will have the option to submit a final finishing piece at the end for personal feedback.Refunds?
Full refund up to the first session.
A FINAL NOTE
The Door is Open
This is our founding cohort — the first time this course is taught, at a founding rate, with places kept small. If something in you has always wanted to understand this art from the inside, this is the door.Are you a student, or joining as a group? Special concessions and group discounts are available to make this craft accessible to more people. Please reach out to me directly to arrange your tuition.
Stay in touch
Let’s Connect
Still thinking it over? This art rewards patience and a considered choice. You can follow my work, hear updates about the next cohort, or see behind-the-scenes processes through my channels below.Have a question instead? Please write to me directly; I personally read and respond to every message.