Before writing, please scroll down to see if your question is already answered in my FAQ. I receive an abundance of these requests and I regret that I cannot respond to them individually anymore. For any other inquiry I will get back to you as soon as I can.
FAQ
Q. Will you be offering online Kufi calligraphy courses?
A. I have a masterclass in Manuscript Kufi on Domestika and occasionally have live zoom courses; see Courses for more info. Please don’t write in to ask in person; if a course is scheduled it’ll be listed there. To be informed when a course is launched, you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter. If you’re not specifically after Kufi, can also point you the School of Traditional Arts, which often offers calligraphy courses in its Open Programme. I don’t know any others to point you to.
Q. Can you teach me Kufi calligraphy?
A. See answer above. I have no time or inclination to give private courses, even for the exorbitant fee this would inevitably require. So please don’t find new ways to ask because I’m running out of polite ways to decline.
Q. Do you take art commissions?
A. Yes – please see my commission page, which also includes my terms and conditions.
Q. Is it possible to visit the studio / see pieces in person?
A. I no longer have a studio, but it should be possible to see the work. Please get in touch to discuss.
Q. Can you write my name in Arabic / Can you design a tattoo/pendant/etc for me?
A. Yes, but there are two things you should know:
- My minimum charge is £200 for a simple rendering in an existing style; if design work is involved (eg Square Kufi) my minimum is £400.
- My work is with the Kufic scripts, so I cannot write it in Naskh, Thuluth, Diwani or any related script.
If you are satisfied with this, please proceed to my commission page.
Q. Can you correct my Kufic composition?
Unless you’re one of my students, no.
Q. Can you decipher/translate a Kufic inscription for me?
If it’s for a professional, paid project, yes. Otherwise, no.
Q. Can you come and hold a calligraphy workshop for pupils of so-and-so school?
A. I’m afraid I have no experience or inclination to work with children.
Q. What about a workshop for adults?
I get a lot of requests for calligraphy “introductions” and “activities” between 1 and 2 hours, and for such casual workshops the answer is no. I teach rare, specialised and challenging styles for which the prerequisites are serious intent and commitment. I’ll only consider workshops that can constitute a full course, which is 12 to 16 hours depending.
Q. Can you give a talk or a demo at so-and-so conference?
I’m happy to discuss it if you’re offering a fee or at least an honorarium. I’m aware conferences often do not pay participants, but unlike the typical speaker at such events, I am not a salaried academic whose job involves taking part in such events. So please do not make me waste my time reading another email asking me to contribute my work and expertise for free.