Use of images
Arabic Calligraphy
Arab and Islamic Art
Graphic Design
Wedding and Invitation Cards
Other Products
Q: I wonder if I could use some of it on
my homepage if I link it back to your page (H. A.)?
A: Thank you for your kind comments about
my work. Although you do not intend to use the images for a commercial purpose,
I need to charge a fee for the use of my work in order to continue to produce
it. For use of artwork in a personal or a nonprofit home page I made the fees
modest so most people who feel my artwork will add value to their page will
be able to afford it.
The fees are US$ 15 for a full screen image, US$10 for a half screen image,
and US$5 for a quarter screen image. Fees for smaller sizes should be rounded
to the next larger size. Credit should appear on the same page in which
the image is used. A link to sakkal.com will be greatly appreciated.
Please send payment and indicate the images you want to use, and where they
will be used, and I will send you a permission note for using the images
you are interested in.
Q: I am making a homepage for a mosque
in Melbourne, Australia. If possible, I would appreciate if you could let me
have a graphic. I have seen some graphics/logos on your page, yet I don't know
if they are available for other Islamic organizations...are they brother? Fee
amaan Allah (F.).
A: You may use graphics from my web site
for your mosque homepage if it is not specifically designed for another client.
Please let me know which one you are interested in and I will tell you if it
will be fine to use. There is a small use fee as indicated in the previouse
answer.
Thanks for your interest, and good luck.
Q: I volunteer for an organization
that promotes middle east folk dancing and music. I saw your graphics about
a year ago and thought they were really outstanding. I took over the group's
web site a few months ago (http://www.wameda.org) and now I want to redo
the pages. Can I buy one of your designs and then put it on each page?
I am not sure if that is how you meant for your graphics to be used. If
you look at the site, you see we use yellow background and darker letters.
Is there a graphic or calligraphy you would recommend? We think this particular
dance is one of the healthiest forms of exercise and we want to encourage
as many people as possible to participate, to enjoy dance and making music
themselves (finger cymbals). Please let me know what to do next.(R.F.).
A: Non of the designs included on my
web site would be appropriate for use in Wameda's site. I will be happy
to design one for you if you tell me which design you like, then I can use
an appropriate phrase, such as "Oriental Dance, Wadeda, Middle East
Dance..etc" to match the style of the design you like. I can give you
an estimate for the fees after receiving the above information, and will
be around $800.
Learning Calligraphy:
Q: I have always wanted to learn calligraphy, and recently, a friend
gave me a pen and a pad to start working on it. I wonder if you could direct
me to a place on the Internet or an organization in California where they might
teach calligraphy. Or, do you have any suggestions for a book to help me get
started (R. H.)?
A: I am not aware of a place where you can
learn Arabic calligraphy in California. Some of the best general books that
deal with Thuluth, Naskh, and Diwani are:
Kawaed al Khat al Arabi by Hashim Muhammed al Khattatt al Boughdadi. New enlarged
edition by Alam Al-Kutub, Beirute 1986.
It can be purchased from some islamic bookstores in the US.
Taallam al-Khatt al-Arabi by Fawzi Salem Afifi. Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi, Damascus and Cairo, 1996 and reprinted in 2001.
See also http://www.zakariya.net/technique/index.html
For those interested in learning the Nastaliq style please see:
http://principlesofarts.com/lesson1.html
For Kufi calligraphy see:
Min al-Khutout al-Arabiyyah by Muhammad Abdelkader Abdallah, Matabe' al-Hay'a
al-Misriyyah al-Aamah Lilkitab, Cairo, 1990.
Al-Khatt al-Arabi al-Kufi by Hasan Qasim Habash. Dar al-Qalam, Beirout 1980
first edition, 1990 third edition.
Finally, you may want to subscribe to Hroof Arabiya Magazine, excellent journal about Arabic calligraphy published quartely in Kuwait.
Q: I'm interested in learning the art of
Arabic/Islamic Calligraphy as a hobby. I can't seem to find a book on the subject
that actually teaches the howto. Could you please point me in the right direction.
(S. A.)
A: You can get started with a recently published
book on Naskh calligraphy titled
Arabic Calligraphy: Naskh script for beginners by Mustafa Ja'far, McGraw-Hill,
2002.
Books about Arabic Calligraphy:
For books about Arabic and Islamic calligraphy please see:
Abdallah, Muhammad Abdulkader: Min al Khutute al Arabiyyah, Cairo 1990 (Arabic).
Begley, W.E.: Monumental Islamic Calligraphy from India, Illinois 1985.
Harati, Muhammad Mahdi: Manifestation of Art in Writing Bimila, Iran 1987 (Persian).
Jum'a, Ibrahim: Dirasatun fi Tatawur al Kitabat al Kufiyyah, Cairo, 1967 ( Arabic).
Khatibi, Abdelkebir, and Sijelmassi, Mohammed: The Splendour of Islamic Calligraphy,
London, NY 1976.
Lings, Martin: The Quranic Art of Calligraphy and Illumination. World of Islam
Festival, London 1976.
Safadi, Y. H.: Islamic Calligraphy, Shambhala, Boulder 1979.
Schimmel, Annemarie: Calligraphy and Islamic Culture, NY 1984.
Schimmel, Annemarie: Islamic Calligraphy, Lieden 1970.
Ulker, Muammer: The Art of Turkish Calligraphy from the beginning up to present,
Ankara 1987 (Arabic, English, Turkish). Yazir, Mahmud Bedreddin: Medeniyet Aleminde
Yazi ve Islam Medeniyetide Kalem Guzeli, Ankara 1989 (in Turkish).
In Urdu language see:
Ejaz Raqm, Ya'ni usule va qawa'id fann khoshnavisi, and Nazme Parvin, Ya'ni
fann khoshkhatti nastaliq ma' mukamil qawa'id va dawabit ta'limi nuqteye nazari,
both published in one volume by Tijkamar Press, 1982.
Naqsh Afzal alma'rouf beh Guldaste Khattati, by Kakim Muhammad Abdullah Sahrif
Afzal Raqam Misouri, published by Malike Safdari Press, 1989,
Qalamnameh, by Muhammad Abdullah Sahrif Afzal Raqam Misouri, published by Malike
Safdari Press, 1986.
Tanweer al-Shams by Munshi Muhammad Shams al-Din Eijaz Raqam, published by Uterpradesh
Urdu Academi, Lak-hnou, 1982.
Sahife Khoushnavisan by Maulawi Ihtiram al-Din Ahmad Shaghel Uthmani, published
by Qawmii Council Barai Furoughe Urdu Ziban, Vazarate Taraqie Insani Wasa'el,
Indian Goverment, 1987.
Q: I am confused about the price of your
calligraphy prints. Is it $45 for 100 copies of an 8"X10"? How much is it for
just one (A.K.)?
A: The price is $45 for one print of a limited
edition of 100 total copies printed of this image. The term limited edition
of 100 means that only 100 prints of this piece of artwork will be printed.
The artist inspects each print, then signs and dates it.
Q: I have a quick question for you regarding
writing the Arabic script: could you please tell me how to write the middle-position
j, H, kh, S, D, T, TH, k and m. Specifically, I'm not sure what I should do
with my pencil/pen when I write these letters in middle position. For example,
when writing "j" (jiim) in middle position, do I write the bottom line all the
way across from right to left, then lift my pencil and write the "j"? And the
same for the other letters. Would you have any diagrams you could email me,
or give me references on the internet that might show me how to write each letter
(Daniel)?
A: Take a look at Babel Arabic website
http://lexicorient.com/babel/arabic/06.htm
and
http://www.hejleh.com/tree/names.html
Q: Check out my www.Arabart.com site which
contained some samples of calligraphy (O. A.).
A: A lot of useful information and beautiful
images of modern art and calligraphy.
Q: After appreciating the beauty of your
art at the 34th ISNA convention in Chicago, I wanted to ask you two questions.
1. Which software you used to do the artwork 'Steps & Shadows' in Kufic?
2. Is there any style called 'Ta'liqa" if so, where to find an example
(Y. H. M.)?
A: 1. I used Macromedia Freehand to do the
Kufi design of Steps & Shadows.
2. According to Y. H. Safadi in Islamic Calligraphy "During the 16th century
in Persia an important calligraphic development took place with the formulation
of Ta'liq (hanging) script from Riqa' and Twqi'. From Ta'liq, an even lighter
and more elegant form evolved, known as Nasta'liq." He shows several examples
of the style on pages 85, 87, 92, 96 and others. The book is published by Shambhala
in Boulder and is widely available.
The development of Ta'liq started as early as the 12th century according to
Fann al Khatt, published by IRCICA in Istanbul, and established its known characteristics
in the 13th century (p. 26). Nasta'liq was perfected by Mir Ali Tabrizi in 1420
CE, and was often referred to as Ta'liq in Turkey, while
Ta'liq was called Old Ta'liq. Examples of Ta'liq are shown in this book in figures
43, 84, 85, 99, 100, 101, 102, and others.
Translation from English to Arabic:
Q: I need a word translated from English
to Arbic, how much will this cost?
A: For a simple translation the fee is $25
per word. For more artistic options please see my Name
Translation Page.
Q: I need a word translated from English
to Arbic, but I don't want to pay you to do this for me. Is there a free place
on the Internet to help me with this?
A: Try http://tarjim.ajeeb.com/ajeeb/
or http://www.hejleh.com/tree/names.html
or http://www.firdaous.com/en/?13-a
Q: I am organizing an exhibition for Muslim
women artists <http://www.webcom.com/hammoude/Update.html>. Do you know
any Muslim women who do fine art (N. H.).
A: You may want to contact Dr. Habibeh Rahim
who organized and curated the exhibition "Inscription as Art in the World
of Islam" in New York, where several Muslim women artists participated.
She also published a catalog for the exhibition containing biographies of the
participating artists, as well as a review in Arts & The Islamic World magazine,
No 29, pp. 45-47. Dr. Rahim is working on an exhibition for Muslim women artists
as well. You can reach her at: 22 Fairlawn Dr, Deer Park, NY 11729.
The Worlds Women On-Line has several biographies of Muslim women.
Cultural and Visual Arts Resource organized the exhibition "Voices of Change"
of Arab women artists, and may have information about Muslim women artists.
You can reach them at: PO Box 226, Lafayette, CA 94549.
Also you may be able to get information about Muslim women artists from Arab
Artists Resources & Training, www.aart.ws, contact: info@aart.ws. Mailing address:
PO Box 372, Redmond, WA 98073.
Good luck and best wishes on your project.
Q: I am a calligrapher. I write "Nastaligh"
and "Shekasteh Nastaligh". I am intrested in taking part in future international
calligraphy competition, which helds every three years in Estambul, Turkey.
Would you please give me any informations about the competition and its address
(A.A.)?
A: The competition address is
International Calligraphy Competition Secretariat
Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA)
P.O.Box 234
80693 Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey
Phone: (212) 259 1742
The information is also published on IRCICA'a web site
http://www.ircica.org/
Q: I would like to know what are your hourly
charges for generating a logo from rough sketch. Who knows, I might get a client
with Arabic background (M. S. Q.).
A: My hourly rate is US$150. The
fees to design a logo range from US$2,000 for non-profit to US$4,000-10,000
for commercial businesses.
Q: Unfortunately your fee is rather
high for us at this time. We are a small organization now and can't justify
such fees. We'll keep you in mind for the future. (J.H.).
A: Thank you for your message.
You may want to look at our IslamiClip clip art collection and see if you
like to use one of the calligraphic designs as a logo. Some of these designs
are quite attractive.
http://sakkal.com/IslamiClip1.html
May Allah bless and guid you.
Q: We are interested in designing buttons,
logo, and backgrounds for our home page. The subject is related to Arabic bulletin
board. We appreciate it if you send us the way to negotiate the matter with
you and the type of payments you prefer. Thank you (G.G..).
A: I will be happy to design the
logo, buttons, and background images for your web site. The fee for the this
work will depend on how many different versions are required and will be between
$4,000 and $6,000. If this is within your budget then please send me more information
about your project and I will prepare a letter of agreement for your review
and approval.
Q: I have a question about designs
for invitations. You only make the design for the invitation, correct? You
do not make actual invitations? If I wanted wedding invitations with the
couples names written on the cover, I would have you make the pattern and
go to someone else to make the invitation with the design on it? I don't
quite understand what the $600 [name design fee] is covering. It only pays
for the design, right? Please clear this up for me. Thanks so much (A).
A: You are right: the fee indicated
($600) is for the design of the names, then you have to take the design
and use it on your invitation. In addition you will get prints of the design
which are suitable for framing. I can do the complete design for the invitation
for an additional fee. This will depend on what you want to do. If you are
interested then please send me additional information about what you would
like to do and I will tell you what it will cost.
Q: i was wondering if you design
islamic wedding cards as well...if not, could you refer me to anyone who
can indeed fulfill my request (SS).
A: You can review my services for wedding
card design at
http://sakkal.com/SakkalCaligNames.html
If this is not what you are looking for, then you may want to check your
local area Arab and Muslim businesses to see if someone offers design or
printing. Good luck.
Q: I am interested in having my Wedding
Invitations in English and Arabic. Can you please advise if you can do this?
If so, what is the cost for approximately 30 Invitations (C).
A: Thank you for your message. Although
I can design the invitations for you, my fees are usually too high for this
type of work. I charge $75 per hour, and the time required for this project
will be 10-15 hours depending on what is required.
Thank you for your interest, and best wishes for your wedding.
Q: Im
getting marrried soon and I have yet to find someone who does arabic wedding
invitations. I really need help. I live in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Can
you suggest somebody to me that I can pay to help do them or do you have a catalogue
you can send me (S).
A: We do only designs for names to be used in invitation but we do
not do the cards themselves. http://www.sakkal.com/SakkalCaligNames.html
For invitation please see http://www.zafafinvitations.com
Q: I am the Chairperson for the Canadian
Arab Heritage Day. We were thinking of selling T-shirts with Arabic calligraphy
as a design. I also saw the T-shirts
you have with the arab world map.
Just wandering, how much would they cost us if we were to sell them during our
heritage day? Keep in mind, we are a non-profit organization and so, any help
is appreciated.
Your designs are absolutely beautiful and breathe taking. Keep up the good work
(R. A.).
A: These shirts are currently sold out.
Please see ordering information
for more details.
Q: We have friends that are Palestinian
Christians. Do you have a selection of greeting cards are written in arabic,
but are not targeted to muslims?
A: Our Salaam series of cards (600 series)
is appropriate for Christian Arabs. With "Peace on Earth," "Salaam,
Peace," and "Justice and Peace," the calligraphy and graphics
work well for Holidays or other occasions. Please see the examples at the
lower part of
http://sakkal.com/Graphics/Eid02_order.html
Cards 911-SG and 914-SG can be used for any occasion because there is not text
involved, only abstract arabesque patterns. Our 700 series is also used sometimes
by Christian Arabs, but our 800 series is based on a phrase which only Muslims
usually use.
Q: How can I apply "Stylistic Sets" in your Arabic font Bustan?
A: Stylistic Sets are illustrated in Bustan's brochure on pages 8-38 and posted in this website:
http://www.sakkal.com/type/bustan_brochure/index.html
Stylistic Sets are applied to selected text from the Character menu:
Character > OpenType > Stylistic Sets
To apply more than one Stylistic Set, repeat the procedure.
IslamiClip Clip Art
For questions related to Clip Art please go to Clip FAQ page.
IslamiClip Calligraphic Designs #1
© SAKKAL DESIGN . Updated 8/6/2017