COURSE | Gunpowder Empires: Islamic Art Illustrated

In this online workshop series students taught by renowned artist Laurelie Rae, students will develop a strong foundational understanding of what contributed to the formation of Islamic Art.

This online course is unique as there is an creative element that will allow students to engage with the art historical material in an artistic manner through guided pattern and motif construction as well as sketchbook prompts. This will encourage the student to go farther into the class material while finding their own areas of interest.

All classes will be taught using an object based method and will investigate the cultural heritage and material culture of the Gunpowder Empires. Classes will be taught via Zoom.

Class Sections and Overview

1. The Formative Period (650- 1050)

CLASS ONE: The World of Late Antiquity and Arabia before Islam and the Rise of Islam/ Early Islamic State.

CLASS TWO: The Arab Empires of the Umayyads and the Abbasids.

2. The Classical Age (1051- 1450)

CLASS THREE: The Origins and Migrations of the Turks (1050- 1250)

CLASS FOUR: The Rise of the Persianate World (1250- 1500)

CLASS FIVE: The Umayyads and Berbers in Spain (1000- 1500)

CLASS SIX: The Rise of Islamic India and the Delhi Sultans (1000- 1500)

3. The Rise and Fall of the Gunpowder Empires (1450- 1850)

CLASS SEVEN: The Rise of the Gunpowder Empires (Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal dynasties)

CLASS EIGHT: The Pleasure Gardens of the Ottomans, Safavids and Mughals

CLASS NINE: The Decline of the Gunpowder Empires.

*Note* This workshop is meant to be an introduction to Islamic Art, it is not an exhaustive approach to the entire history.

Course Instructor

Laurelie Rae is the founder and owner of Istanbul based art studio, Atelier Lulu. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University, a Masters of Arts from the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts and a second Masters of Arts from Sabanci University. She published her first book, Islamic Art and Architecture: Memories of Seljuk and Ottoman Masterpieces in 2015 which she illustrated and wrote.

With over a decade of experience, Laurelie is a learning and outreach consultant for many international cultural heritage institutions and associations. She helps museums develop community appreciation through workshops and special education programs that focus on their Islamic Art collections. Laurelie also creates and teaches staff education programs using a hands on and experimental approach. Laurelie speaks at universities, conferences and events discussing the importance of cultivating our own narratives and relation to Islamic Art and identity.

As a celebrated artist, author and art educator she is uniquely positioned within the Islamic Art field. Her artwork references Islamic Art history while juxtaposing it to her Canadian upbringing. Her art education programs and workshops are internationally acclaimed and sought after and have drawn thousands of participants.

Course Details

This is an online course taught over Zoom. Zoom links will be provided closer to the start date of the course. Classes will be recorded and student’s will have access to the recordings for 3 months after the completion of the course. For student pricing, an honour system will be employed. Click on the button below to book your place on the course.

Please note: if you require a payment method other than Paypal, email us at info@sacredfootsteps.com and we can provide alternative options.