Product Description

Clear diagrams and a detailed explanatory text: an inspirational guide for craftspeople and artists everywhere. Includes a CD-ROM.

The marvels of Islamic patterns—the most recognizable visual expression of Islamic art and architecture—are not just a beautiful accident. The ancient practitioners of this craft used traditional methods of measurement to create dazzling geometric compositions, often based on the repetition of a single pattern. The results are magnificent in their beauty and awe-inspiring in their execution.

Now, with the aid of this book, everyone can learn how to master this ancient art and create their own intricate patterns or re-create classic examples. All one needs are a pencil, a ruler, a compass, and a steady hand. First, technical tips demonstrate the basics: how to draw a square, hexagon, or pentagon. This is followed by some of the best examples of geometric patterns from around the world, arranged into three levels of complexity, with careful, step-by-step instructions.

The book features geometric patterns from some of the most famous and beautiful Islamic architecture and art, including:
• La Mezquita, Cordoba
• Capella Palatina, Sicily
• Mustansiriya Madrasa, Baghdad
• Umayyad Mosque, Damascus
• Mosque of al-Salih Tala'I, Cairo
• The Koran of Rashid al-Din

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #277305 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780500287217
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Eric Broug received his master's degree in the History of Islamic Art & Architecture from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He now runs Broug Ateliers for Islamic Architecture, Arts, and Crafts, which creates contemporary Islamic art.

Customer Reviews

Excellent!
I was very impressed with this book. It gives easy to follow step by step instructions and the patterns increase by levels of difficulty, along with design tips and where the specific patterns are from (the Alhambra in Granada etc.) The CD that comes with it is equally as simple to navigate, and you can print out .pdf's of the patterns.
It provides interesting information about how the artist got involved in geometric design. I only wish there was more information about the significance of the geometric patterns in the cultures where they are used and perhaps the significance of the colors used. But I guess this isn't the purpose of the book. That will be up to google.

Covers the history, evolution and current common examples of these patterns
Islamic patterns come from ancient practitioners who used traditional measurements to create geometric compositions based on patterns of repetition: ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC PATTERNS covers the history, evolution and current common examples of these patterns and is a fine choice for both art libraries and Middle Eastern holdings. From examples of Islamic architecture and art to surveys of how the patterns work, expect pages of patterns and discussions.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Draw your own Islamic designs
This book has previously been hard to find. I was willing to buy it in Dutch but found it almost impossible to obtain. It is now also in English and Farsi. It is a primer on how Islamic patterns can be drawn by the modern artist or illustrator. It includes a CD-ROM which worked on my MacBook so It probably is compatible with most computers. There are beautiful examples or architectural design motifs and various things from all the Islamic world. If you like this kind of art this is a very good book on it and well worth the very inexpensive price.