This October 2026, explore the extraordinary geometric and curvilinear patterns found on three Moroccan brass tea trays. This unique online course invites participants to study, draw, and analyse three exceptional designs, offering a rare insight into the remarkable skill, precision, and sophistication of traditional Moroccan engravings.
The course examines the compositional structures underlying both geometric and curvilinear motifs, revealing their underlying logic, proportional systems, and aesthetic principles. Through detailed geometric analysis, participants will discover how these intricate patterns are constructed while developing a deeper understanding of the artistic traditions and knowledge that have shaped them.
Alongside this analytical exploration, the course introduces traditional Moroccan drawing practices, focusing on the artisanal Rshim method as the principal approach to pattern construction. This time-honoured technique provides a practical introduction to the geometric processes and drawing methods traditionally employed by master Moroccan brass engravers.
Participants will also investigate Moroccan engraving techniques, including the use of the chisel, the distinctive properties of brass, and hands-on tracing methods. Through this practical and analytical approach, we will gain a greater appreciation of the artistic refinement and cultural significance embedded within Moroccan geometric art.
The course is structured across three levels: the first session is intended for beginners, the second for intermediate participants, and the final session for advanced practitioners. Each session builds progressively on the previous one, offering an increasingly in-depth exploration of Moroccan geometry while remaining accessible to newcomers and intellectually engaging for experienced practitioners.
Designed for engravers, artists, designers, architects, craftspeople, and scholars of geometry, this course offers a rare opportunity to engage closely with Moroccan patterns and develop a rigorous, hands-on understanding of the principles, techniques, and traditions that contribute to their enduring beauty.
**Required Tools:**
- Professional Drawing Compass with a 0.5mm mechanical pencil
- Divider (essential for precision)
- 0.7mm Mechanical Pencil for line drawing
- Metal Rulers (30 cm & 50 cm)
- A3 Sheets of Drawing Paper
- Eraser
**About the Instructor:**
Hamza El Fasiki trained as an apprentice under his father since 2011 at the Dar-Attamania Studio in Fes, Morocco, where he earned an Ijazah in the art of at-Tastir and a guild-recognition in the crafts of metal engravings and leather bookbinding. He also holds an MA degree in Moroccan Cultural Studies from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fes, where his academic work centered on the cultural history of traditional Moroccan crafts. Hamza is an Andalusian oud musician and a published author. His recent publication includes a book chapter titled "Sacred Space: Geometric Patterns in Moroccan Art," featured in the anthology *Perspective: Selected Essays on Space in Art and Design* (2023).
