Introduction to Arabic Calligraphy: Maghrebi Script

Discover the connection between hand and heart with the meditative practice of Arabic calligraphy. Artist and calligrapher Maaida Noor uses calligraphy to fulfill her need to create aesthetically beautiful artwork. She has worked for brands including Christian Dior, Jo Malone, Estée Lauder, and Selfridges. She has also been recognized at the British Muslim Awards in the category for Art and Culture Awareness.

In this course, Maaida takes you step-by-step through the process of creating the Arabic alphabets using the Maghrebi script. Learn about the rich history and significance behind Arabic calligraphy, before using a traditional reed pen and dot system to form words and sentences on the page.

Begin by getting to know your teacher, Maaida. She takes you through her journey to becoming an artist and achieving harmony between the mind, body, and soul through years of practice. Find out how she uses culture, poetry, nature, and more to inspire her work.

Learn about the transformation of Arabic writing into an art form and, in particular, the history behind the Maghrebi script. Look at the materials used in this course, from a traditional reed pen to ink mixer, then prepare your tools and learn how to look after your calligraphy kit. Familiarize yourself with the dot system which is used to achieve balance in Arabic calligraphy.

Pick up your reed pen and start writing the letters. Maaida teaches you how to write each Arabic letter in the Maghrebi al Mabsoot script with precise measuring units. She focuses on the structure of each letter to achieve harmony and balance by using knowledge of the dot system.

Explore diacritic marks and how they are placed around letters to indicate sound and movement. Then learn how to write them using a reed pen. Finally, use your knowledge of the letters and their underlying structure to join them together to form words and sentences with the help of Maaida’s templates.

Write the joined form of the Maghrebi alphabets using the traditional reed pen.

This course is for anyone interested in learning the meditative art of Arabic Calligraphy.

No previous experience is needed for this course.

For materials, you will need a reed pen, an inkwell, calligraphy paper, silk threads (likka), and a straightedge and HB pencil. An A4 foam board is optional.