My writing tools, including quills, reed pens (qalam ney), Chinese brushes, sign painting brush and assorted metal nibs (broad nib, copperplate, quill, wire brush, etc.). These are a sampling of the well-used tools of my daily life as a calligrapher. … Read More
Happy First Day of Spring – No Ruz – Iranian New Year – Vernal Equinox. May the coming year be one of happiness and fulfillment for everyone.
نو روز پيروز
به اميد ديدار Persian calligraphy by S. J. Thomas. www.palmstone.com
Islamic Marriage Certificate with bismallah, Qur’an inscription in Arabic and English and hand painted illuminated border design. Original work by artist calligrapher Stewart J. Thomas. www.palmstone.com
The 11th century poet, Omar Khayyam, says “I am my own, and, what I am, I am / من زان خودم چنان که هستم هستم” Calligraphy and hand painted border by Stewart J. Thomas, www.palmstone.com
Arabic inscription in the form of a hummingbird and a flower. The hummingbird reads as the bismallah “ ” while the flower reads as “Ina lilah wa ina ilahi rajioon” – “إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ”
Calligraphy by S. J. … Read More
This line of poetry from Rumi has been translated as “Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.” I prefer “Sell your cleverness and buy be-wonderment.” The Persian says: buy the art of wonder. Calligraphy by Stewart J. Thomas, www.palmstone.com
No Ruz Pirooz. Home-made Iranian style baqlava (baklava) made with almonds, pistachios, cardamom and rose water – served with tea, of course. Happy New Year, and may it be a good one.
“Dance when you are perfectly free” Persian (Farsi) calligraphy by S.J. Thomas. No Ruz Pirooz!
Ayat al-Kursi (āyatu-l-kursī), the 255th verse (ayah) of the second chapter (sura) of the Qur’an, Al-Baqara. To listen to a recitation of this Ayat, along with translation into English, view here. For a description of the symmetry of the language … Read More
Persian names in calligraphy by Stewart J. Thomas, calligrapher. www.palmstone.com
From time to time I like to feature a wonderful work from the masters:
Saki, album miniature, 1609
Reza Abbasi, 1565-1635
A poem of Mawlana Rumi, “Nah man beehodeh gerde koocheh.” If you would like to hear this song sung in the Sufi ecstatic style, here is a link to a rendering by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The accent is definitely … Read More
From Rumi:
Seek the science that unties for you this knot.
Seek it as long as there’s life in you still to be sought.
Leave that nothing that looks like it is something;
Seek that something that looks like nothing; … Read More
Persian calligraphy created as a tattoo design for a client. www.palmstone.com
Wedding Monogram created by Stewart J. Thomas combines two names inside of a floral teardrop. www.palmstone.com
“To thine self be true” Arabic calligraphy by S. J. Thomas, www.palmstone.com
“if you want light, you must light a fire” Persian poetry by Jalaluddin Maulana Rumi. Persian (Farsi) calligraphy by Stewart J. Thomas www.palmstone.com.
Freedom “Azadi” Persian calligraphy design by Stewart J. Thomas, www.palmstone.com
Poetry by Jalaluddin Rumi, calligraphy by Stewart J. Thomas, palmstone.com. A popular translation of this passage reads:
“The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep!
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t … Read More
Sarbaz-e Azadi “Soldier of Freedom” designed as a Farsi (Persian) tattoo for a client, by S. J. Thomas. www.palmstone.com
