Islamic Calligraphy on Leaves
Islamic Calligraphy on Leaves
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Islamic calligraphy on leaves remains a captivating art form found in various parts of the Muslim world. There’s no exact reason I’ve been able to find for why leaves are used, but the answer seems more simple: that leaves are such a natural and beautiful medium, mentioned in the Qur’an and an instant example of the natural world. Rather than drawing or painting on leaves as they often do in Islamic illumination, why not write directly on one?
Some of the most stunning examples were from the Ottomans in the 19th century performed with a mix of gold and glue on dried leaves. Nowadays, these dried leaves are called skeleton leaves, where all of the pulp of the leaves are removed and only the veiny skeleton remains.
Basmala - Source: Khalili Collections
An Ottoman gold hilya by Mehmet Nazif Efendi, 1912. Source: Ottoman Imperial Archives
Leaf art examples by Mete Uge, Modern Turkish artist. Source: TRT World
Since the leaves are so delicate after being flattened, I find that attempting to do artwork on a leaf is better suited for older children (10+). If you’d like to attempt making a skeleton glue and doing calligraphy on it with a gold paint/glue mixture, there are many tutorials available for making a skeleton leaf. I have not been able to attempt it yet, but would love to try in the future!
For my project, I chose fresh leaves flattened under books. Keep in mind that these leaves may naturally disintegrate over time. To preserve them, you can apply a protective layer of Mod Podge or experiment with other preservation techniques.
I loved the simple way that they turned out and will definitely do it more. Here is how I did simple calligraphy on leaves.
How to Create Simple Calligraphy on Leaves
- Prepare the Leaves: Collect 4 or 5 leaves and flatten them under heavy books for at least a day. It’s helpful to have multiple leaves in case one tears or gets damaged while you work.
- Design Your Calligraphy: Sketch your calligraphy on paper first, then transfer the design onto the leaf. Use a black Sharpie or a white gel pen for tracing, depending on your preference. For younger children, you may cut out a piece of calligraphy and glue it onto the leaf.
- Add Shimmer: To give your design a touch of elegance, paint over the calligraphy with gold paint.
- Display: Once dry, display your calligraphy-adorned leaves for all to admire! It looks especially nice in floating frames.
