This multi-week program introduces participants to the fundamentals of depicting nature within the tradition of Ottoman miniature painting. Each week focuses on a key natural element—clouds, trees, rocks, water—and teaches both the symbolic meanings behind these motifs and the technical skills required to illustrate them in miniature style.

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In the first week, students explore cloud motifs, learning their cultural significance and practicing various drawing and colouring techniques used to represent different weather conditions. 

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The second week centers on trees, beginning with an overview of their symbolic roles in Ottoman art. Participants learn to draw iconic forms such as cypress and floral trees, followed by colouring methods and compositional placement. 

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During the third week, the focus shifts to rocks and stones. Students study their representation in historical miniatures, practice drawing them step by step, and learn how to incorporate them effectively into a scene. 

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The fourth week introduces water motifs, including rivers and the sea. Participants learn techniques to capture movement and reflections, explore traditional colour palettes, and follow guided demonstrations in painting flowing water.

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In the final week, students who attended the earlier modules bring their skills together to create a complete nature composition. Through guided instruction, they learn to layer elements such as clouds, trees, rocks, and water, apply traditional colour palettes, and refine their work with detailed finishing touches. 

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Week 1 - Cloud Motifs in Ottoman Miniature

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Lesson 1

• Starting with an overview of miniature painting in Ottoman art 

• Exploration of the symbolism and cultural significance of clouds in traditional arts 

• Learning how to draw different styles cloud motifs, depending on weather conditions and the scenery you would like to create.

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Lesson 2

• Understanding cloud motifs in miniature painting.

• Checking different cloud painting styles in traditional arts.

• Colouring techniques for cloud motifs such as dotting, shading and outlining.

• Guided demonstration of step-by-step painting techniques for cloud motifs

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Week 2 - Trees in Ottoman Miniature Painting

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Lesson 3

• Starting with an overview of trees in miniature painting 

• Exploration of the symbolism of some trees in Ottoman art 

• Step by step drawing of miniature trees such as cypress tree, floral trees, trees without leaves

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Lesson 4

• Overview Ottoman art featuring Cypress Trees 

• Understanding the placement of trees in different compositions 

• Colouring techniques for tree motifs such as dotting, shading and outlining

• Guided demonstration of step-by-step painting techniques for tree motifs

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Week 3 - Rocks and Stones in Ottoman Miniature Painting

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Lesson 5

• Overview of rocks and stones in different Ottoman miniature painting

• Step by step drawing rocks and stones 

• Learning how to use them in composition

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Lesson 6

• Guided demonstration of step-by-step painting techniques for rocks and stones

• Using suitable paints and brushes for the motifs 

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Week 4 - River and Sea in Ottoman Miniature Painting

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Lesson 7

• Introduction of Ottoman Miniature Painting and Water Motifs 

• Techniques for capturing flow and movement in rivers

• Sketching rivers with emphasis on curves and reflections

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Lesson 8

• Exploring colour palette for water elements in Ottoman Miniature 

• Learning different painting styles for water motifs such as river and sea

• Step by step demonstration of river in miniature painting

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Week 5 - Creating a Nature Composition in Ottoman Miniature 

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Lesson 9

• You could join this module if you joined the previous 4 modules. 

• Learning how to create a nature composition using the elements from the previous workshops such as clouds, trees, river and rocks

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Lesson 10

• Guided Demonstration: Layering Techniques for achieving texture in nature scenes 

• Using the traditional miniature painting colour palette to create a landscape painting

• Hands on Practice: Step by step painting instructions 

• Adding finishing touches: fine details and highlights