Mount Damavand, Iran
Lady Sun
In Iran the sun is Khorshid Khanoum, “Lady Sun” – original artwork in ink and watercolour by Stewart J. Thomas.
If you want light, you must light a fire
“If you want light, you must light a fire,” poetry by Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, known by most simply as Rumi, the great poet who can be claimed by several modern nations, but who wrote in Persian (Farsi) in a manner that sounds as fresh, direct and poetic today as it must have when he first uttered the lines centuries ago. Original calligraphy by Stewart J. Thomas.
he Ancient One – “Yeganeh Ghadim”
The Ancient One – “Yeganeh Ghadim” – an epithet of the divine. Original calligraphy by Stewart J. Thomas.
Oh Soul, you worry too much
Persian (Farsi) calligraphy by Stewart J. Thomas, selection from the poem of Jalaludin Rumi, known in English as “Oh Soul, you worry too much”
Library Entrance, Tehran
Library Entrance #Tehran #Iran (at Imam Khomeini Square / میدان امام خمینی)
National Library and Museum, Tehran
No Ruz Painting
Stewart says: Ink painting on mulberry paper done last night as a demo for my painting students and, of course, in celebration of No Ruz. Eid-e shoma mobarak!
Buddhist Prayer Rondel
This rondel features original calligraphy and translation into Persian (Farsi) by Stewart J. Thomas of the Buddhist prayer:
May I be free from fear. May I be free from suffering.
May I be happy. May I be filled with loving kindness.
The first phrase begins at the position of about 1 if this were a clock.
Mehr Design
Original calligraphy design by Stewart J. Thomas: the design is made up of repeating elements of the word “mehr” meaning love in Persian (Farsi).
No Ruz Haft Sin
Another example of a No Ruz haft sin table, this one reblogged from another collection. Happy New Year!
No Ruz Photo with Hand Painted Border
As we approach the celebration of No Ruz, the Iranian New Year which begins at the Vernal Equinox (usually March 21st in the Gregorian calendar), I am presenting a series of photos of the “Haft Sin” from previous years. This one is set within a hand painted border by Stewart J. Thomas with calligraphy reading “Eid Mobarak”
Calligraphy Piece with Khatamkar Frame
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” written by calligrapher Stewart J. Thomas, in English around the border of each piece, and in half lines within each frame in Persian (Farsi). Background and edges are hand painted with gouache and metallic inks overlaid with a watercolour wash. The frames are khatamkar, an Iranian craft wherein bundles of different colours of wood and metal are sliced and painstakingly inlaid into intricate geometric patterns.
Paisley Designs “Boteh”
Another original design by Stewart J. Thomas. “I create these types of designs constantly, either in conjunction with calligraphy work–as borders or backgrounds–or as stand alone designs.” The embedded paisley designs, known as “boteh” in Persian, or “buta” in Kashmir, are a recurring motif in the arts of Iran and India.
No Ruz
As we ponder the arrival of another No Ruz, or new day, I share with you a haft sin from a previous year. Note the use of the fish-shaped mirror – a small treasure from an auto rickshaw supply store in Bangalore, India – in lieu of a live goldfish. In a couple of weeks I’ll share this year’s haft sin photo with you.
“Boteh”
The pattern known in Persian as “boteh” or in Kashmir as “buta” is pervasive in Iranian designs since ancient times. From the 17th century the pattern became known in the west as the “Paisley” because of the connection between Kashmir designs that were then woven into wool shawls in Paisley, Scotland. Each year new designs were created in Kashmir, to this day a center of extremely complex weaving and embroidery skills. This pattern is by Stewart Thomas, who in addition to his calligraphy work creates several new “boteh” patterns every day.
“Yeki bood, Yeki nabood”
“Yeki bood, Yeki nabood” is the traditional beginning of Iranian stories: “Once there was, once there wasn’t … ” and so the tale begins. Persian (Farsi) calligraphy by Stewart Thomas.