Acanthus Leaves: Nature, Ornament and Design
3-week online art workshop with Lubna Zahid
Oct 16-30, 2026 | 10 am - 12:30 pm ET
Fee: $155
Open to all skill levels | Recordings will be available
class description
Discover the timeless beauty of the Acanthus leaf, one of the most influential motifs in the history of decorative art. This class explores its origins and evolution from classical art and architecture to Islamic and Indo-Persian ornament. Students will study the natural structure and graceful movement of the leaf, then translate these observations into stylized decorative forms through drawing and design exercises. The class offers an opportunity to explore how nature can be transformed into sophisticated patterns for illumination, painting, and contemporary design.
Class Schedule
Friday, October 16 (Week 1) - 10 am - 12:30 pm ET
Friday, October 23 (Week 2) - 10 am - 12:30 pm ET
Friday, October 30 (Week 3) - 10 am - 12:30 pm ET
https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter
Materials List
This is a suggested list; you may use the supplies you already have that are closer to the supply list provided.
1. Paper
Any Sketchbook or Practice paper.
Watercolor Hot-Pressed paper, 140lbs, 9” X 12”. Fabriano or Arches Artistico. You may get a full sheet and cut it to your size.
Graphite paper to transfer images. Saral Transfer Paper (Wax Free)
2. Brushes
Good-quality watercolor brushes: round, pointed #00, 0, 1, 3, 6, or similar sizes; natural hair (Squirrel or Sable) or Synthetic blend.
3. Gouache Paints: Red, Pink, Deep Blue, Green, Yellow, Black, White, and other colors of your choice. Suggested brands (Winsor & Newton, Holbein, Daniel Smith). Note: make sure they are NOT acrylic gouache.
4. Gold Watercolor Paint: 1st choice Schmincke (pan), 2 nd choice Finetec (Arabic gold), 3rd choice Winsor & Newton (Gold gouache).
5. A palette or a white ceramic dinner plate.
6. Graphite pencil, HB.
7. Soft White Eraser.
8. An eyedropper.
9. Two small containers for water.
10. Masking tape and a board to tape your paper to.
SOURCES FOR SUPPLIES
Online:
Art Stores:
Plaza Artist Materials
Michael’s Art & Craft Store
Utrecht Art Supplies
Instructor Bio
Lubna Zahid
Lubna Zahid is a classically trained fine artist who works in mixed media.
Strongly influenced by contemporary and classical calligraphy in Urdu, Arabic, and Persian, her pieces include texts in these languages. She experiments with bold renditions of Islamic decorative forms such as the Shamsa.
Lubna has exhibited her work in the United States and Pakistan. She teaches classes, workshops and seminars on art and art history in various venues. She is a Studio Art instructor at the Smithsonian.
Lubna received calligraphy and illumination training from master calligrapher Abbas Baghdadi. She works with a variety of media, including transparent watercolor, gouache, graphite, charcoal, ink, acrylics, gold leaf, and clay. Her techniques include glazing, pouring, layering, splashing, spattering, textural writing, and gilding. Lubna lives in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.
For more information about Lubna, please visit her website: https://www.lubnazahid.com/ | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubnazahidart/