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TALES OF THE MARVELLOUS AND NEWS OF THE STRANGE: Natural Marvels & Oddities ‘Aja’ib wa-Ghara'ib Starts 5 February | £249 | Online Book now TALES OF THE MARVELLOUS AND NEWS OF THE STRANGE CLASSES ‘Aja’ib wa-Ghara’ib Natural Marvels and Oddities: Natural magic and correspondences The Bear and the Donkey (and the Ass). Both animals traditionally worked for humans, in circuses or as labour; we will free them and give them their own lives. Borne from a desire to present a truly comprehensive picture of all miniature painting, and emerging from my latest ongoing research into the world of the 1001 Arabian Nights, these classes are like a cabinet of curiosities for miniature painting. The TALES classes comprise 3 strands: Characterless Characters, Objects and Ingenious Devices and our final strand - Natural Marvels and Wonders. If, like me, you find stories and marvels irresistible, join me in painting a collection of marvels and wonders. We have covered the Vegetal and the Mineral - it’s time to address the Animal. Humans have found wonder in the tiniest fleas and the wide open seas and the far flung stars (and now we’re going to Mars). These things are the stuff of stories, the razm o bazm (fight and feast) of the Shahnameh and the magic everyday fabric that is the stock in trade of the Nights. The many varied and countless aspects of the world that was Shahrazad’s master plan: show them all to Shahriyar and present a picture of all life to him so he sees the nuances and not only the extremes, and comes to completion through her stories. Upcoming Sessions Dates: 5 February 2025 to 26 February 2025 Total of 4 sessions • Wednesday 5 February, 7pm - 8pm London time • Wednesday 12 February, 7pm - 8pm London time • Wednesday 19 February, 7pm - 8pm London time • Wednesday 26 February, 7pm - 8pm London time Book now

Paint the Supernatural and the Night Sky - Angels, Divs and Demons Starts 5 February | £199 | Online Book now Immerse yourself in the vivid colours, wondrous landscapes and the starry night sky in Persian Safavid and other Islamic miniature paintings. Explore Mughal and Chinese influences that synthesised along the Silk Road. Five courses will look at different elements - Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Ether. This fifth course, Ether, will be explored in terms of the supernatural: beautiful winged Angels, wild Divs and Demons and the starry night sky. According to ancient and Medieval science, ether/aether or quintessence (the fifth element) filled the celestial spheres, cosmological models developed by Plato, Aristotle and others. The Buraq winged steed transported Prophet Mohammad to the heavens, during the Isra and Mi’raj, the Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem. We will look at depictions of the starry night sky in miniature paintings and paint shell gold stars to make luminous and magical pieces in keeping with the element of Ether. We’ll paint meteors and shooting stars inspired by some of the wild comet-like trailing clouds in the miniatures of the Miraj. We’ll learn why monsters are not as fearful as they initially appear and why shell gold is the ultimate alchemical paint: real, liquid gold that can transcend and transform any layer of a painting - gold that has morphed into paint itself. From fiery mythical animals we now cross over further into the supernatural realm of composite beasts made up of many creatures, miscellaneous monsters, divs and demons and finally into the human figure in the form of celestial winged angels. This course is broadly Advanced since it involves the use of shell gold - however it is equally suitable for beginners. Your experienced tutor will adapt and tailor her teaching to your abilities. No previous experience is necessary and all courses work equally well as standalone courses that can be taken individually. However, to get the most out of them and to gain a thorough grounding in miniature painting we recommend taking all 5 courses. Continuing students taking the cycle again may start a new painting or bring along works in progress to complete. The following course rotates to the beginning of the cycle and focuses on Earth – Rocks: stylised, spirited rock formations that spiral out of the painting’s frame and are associated with the supernatural since they are moving while appearing while appearing solid. Upcoming Sessions Dates: 5 February 2025 to 26 February 2025 Total of 4 sessions • Wednesday 5 February, 6pm - 7pm London time • Wednesday 12 February, 6pm - 7pm London time • Wednesday 19 February, 6pm - 7pm London time • Wednesday 26 February, 6pm - 7pm London time Book now

A Hall of Mirrors in a book Starts 5 February | £399 | Online Book now Indian sheesh mahal or halls of mirrors in Rajasthan are the inspiration for this class. Golestan Palace in Iran has a fantastic mirrored muqarnas. We'll paint using ordinary paints, metallic paints and even deboss into foil to make our mirrored creations. This is the Golestan Palace meets Versailles in a book. A glittering look at the magic to come later this year. You will ideally need a foil embossing kit for this class - alternatively just some ordinary kitchen foil and an Ether-brush style instrument with which to deboss/emboss. Class includes a bespoke handmade leather cover to paint and free postage to anywhere in the world. Sent separately depending on production schedules. Make your own library of handmade Islamic style books! Upcoming Sessions Dates: 5 February 2025 to 26 February 2025 Total of 4 sessions • Wednesday 5 February, 9pm - 10pm London time • Wednesday 12 February, 9pm - 10pm London time • Wednesday 19 February, 9pm - 10pm London time • Wednesday 26 February, 9pm - 10pm London time Book now